Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-20
ENEMY SUBMARINES /.
COMMUNICATE WITH
PERSONS ON SHORE
Evidence That They Have
Landed Men to Secure
Information.
B0CHE OFFICER RECOGNIZED
BY MAN FROM SHIP HE SANK
Two Raiders Recently on Coast
Have Departed or Have
Been Destroyed.
THIRD Is STILL OPERATING
norwegian Steamer and Bark Sent
to Bottom-Prisoner on Sub
Eight Days.
B0CHE OFFICER RECOGNIZED
BY MAN FROM SHIP HE SANK
THIRD is STILL OPERATING
Norwegian Steamer and Bark Sent
to Bottom-Prisoner on Sub
Eight Jays.
tBy Associated Press

BY Associated Prehsi
WASHINGTON. August le.-Infor
nation furnished by officers of YES
hels attacked by German submarines
"!ohs the American coast has strength
eneo the belief held by several ex-
perienced offcials here that the enemy
raiders have had communication with
persons on shore and may even have
landed members Of their crews in an
eHort to secure reliable information.
The Navy Department officially refused
tonight TO indorse this belief. though
admitting the possibility.
Positivc claim that he met in a New
ork saloon AN officer from the sub
marine that sunk the schooner o. b.
Jennings is made by the FIRST officer of
mat vessel according TO a story reach
ing the department. The recognition
between the American and German is
said TO have been instantaneous. the
latter making his escape when the
American appealed to brother or
hcer accompanying him for conirma-
tion OF his belief
Other instances have been heard. not
20 we'll suhstantiatcd. OF the discov-
cry OF evidence that German subrna-
rines have been in close touch with the
shore. One story along this line was
that the captain OF coastwise vessei.
being ordered to the submarine with
his papers. was astounded to see oil
the desk Of the German commander
copies Of the New York dailies or
the same date.
COMMUNICATIONS POSSIBLE
At SCORES OF PLACES
Communication between the raiders
and the mainland IS possible at scores
OF places along the Atlantic shore. ma
val officials believe the irregularity
OF the American coasts at certain
points making such possible.
Recently the precautions taken by
authorities to prevent such communi-
cation have been greatly augmented.
both by shore patrol and other methods
which cannot be discussed. 1t can
he stated. however. that no official re-
port has teen made giving any definite
evidence OF any enemy boat having
landed.
From authoritative sources il was
learned to-day tina, there is reason
TO believe that three German subma-
rines have been operating the
American coasts at three separate
points. Two Of these have recently
ceased operating" either because their
stores have become exhausted or as a
result Of damage received in contacr
with the patrol fleets. 1t is known
that the activities Of one boat ceased
Immediately after a destroyer report
cd having discharged depth bombs
near the spot where the C-boat sub
merged.
ONE ESPECIALLY EaUIppED
FOR CUTTING CABLES
One Of three submarines, It is con-
sidered certain. was especially equip
ped for duty as a cable cutter This
is held to explain the sudden parting
recently of two Atlantic cables
naval repair ship. escorted by fight
ing craft. since has picked up ana
spiiced both cables.
Descriptions OF the submarines on
Grating in American waters almos,
without exception give their length as
200 feet and their armament as two
guns Of either 81 or 59-inch calibcr.
Naval experts deduce from other infor-
nation that the enemy craft have a
cruising radius of not less than 1900
miles.
The German Admiralty now has in
commission between 160 and $50 sub
marines, while the total number de-
stroyed by the allies has passed the
100 mark according to the most re-
liable information available here IF
correct. these figures would indicate
that new German construction has
barely held it's own over the period
of four years, as at the beginning Of
the war the Germans are known 70
have had about $50 submarines.
The toll in the last six months. how
ever. has been many times that at
tanned in any previous period. and the
constantly increasing allied antisub-
marine forces. according to naval or
hcials. will put the ratio continually
higher as time passes
All the members Of the crew of the
Norwegian steamer San Jose. which
was sunk off the Atlantic coast August
81. have been accounted for, the Navy
Department tonight announced. Thir
,v-one members OF the San .Iose's crew
we're landed to-day at an Atlantic
port.
CAPTAIN DAVID EVANS.
OF PENISTONE, LANDED
BY Associated Press