Evening star., 1942-04-29
Patrol Craft Warned
To Be on Watch for
Camouflaged Subs
Attempt to Appear as
Fishing Boots With
FuIse Mosts Forecast
BY CLAUDE A. MAHONEY.


Well-founded rumors that Axis
submarines have attempted camou.
flage in their efforts TO approach
the Atlantic Coast have sharpened
the watch of all patrol craft. even
down to the members Of the civilian
Coast Guard Auxiliary, 1t was
learned today.
Members of the auxiliary have
been warned by intelligence officers
of the 5th Naval District to be on
constant lookout for submarines
that may have attempted to dis
guise themselves as fishing craft by
sending up false or extra mast
when they are on the surface OBJ
servers have pointed out that such
masts may be merely the regular
telescope radio mast. extended and
hung with fragment of sail or a
net to confuse persons studying the
silhouette from distance.
In any event, the intelligence OFF,
GERS warned, small craft encoun-
tered at sea should be "scrutinized
carefully before being dismissed as
harmless
Landings Recalled.
It Is a matter of record, the let
ter of warning continued, that dur
ing the World War personnel from
German submarines made landings
on the American shore by means
of rubber boats and mingled with
the citizens without being appre-
hended. The Coast Guard Auxil
larry has been asked to be especially
alert regarding suspicious strangers
on shore, and if suspicious are well
grounded, to report their presence
to local officers.
BY fair means or foul, enemy
submarines operating along the At
lantic Coast have attacked 108
merchantmen since the drive began.
This does not include attacks In
the Caribbean. One set Of survi-
vors said that the Axis raider
blinked peaceful signals that drew
an unarmed ship into its range of
fire before it loosed the death
dealing torpedoes.
Many Traps Used.
Submarine experts say that the
use of an enemy merchant ship
disguised as a neutral vessel, with
a submarine close behind, sub
merged, has constituted traps in
former years. It has been pointed
out, too, that a submarine might
tow a small lifeboat from coming
tower mast as bait, or that q box
full of burning rags might be set
afioat to attract persons looking
for survivors.
The use of the mast, either the
regular radio mast or one carried
lashed to the hull to be raised when
surfaced, is the subterfuge that has
engaged the latest attention. 1t
was pointed out by observers that
such a mast set ahead Of the con-
ming tower might give the tower
the appearance Of a small cabin
at long range.
The submarines that have sunk
so many tankers that an acute fuel
crisis exists along the Eastern Coast
have had best luck when coming up
at night or early morning to charge
batteries and stalk their prey. They
have been able in MANY instances
to approach to within 800 to 500
yards before firing, which, according
to one officer, Is like hitting that
bulkhead there with . potato"
Small Boats Useful.
As a preventive measure, more
and more small boats are being
ordered into submarine patrol work,
as the small boats are fast and
maneuverable. But the destroyer
remains the best surface protection,
in opinion of Navy experts, as it
combines maneuverability with fire
power and ability to drop depth
charges.
In the air even false mast would
be little disguise for the crew of a
searching plane that can look
straight down on surfaced sub
marine, or to blimp that can hover
low over the vessel Testimony to
the newly-appreciated value OF the
blimp is given in the letter Of Un-
dersecretary of the Navy Forrestal
to Speaker Rayburn yesterday, ask
ing for "a additional blimps to bring
the total under order to u.