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Show NAVAL GONVDYS FOR COASTWISE SHIPS STEADILY EXPANDING PROGRAM OF DEFENSE BEING PUT IN OPERATION AGAIN ST RAIDS. System Will Be Continued Until the End of the War, or at Least Until All Danger of Submarine Attacks Has Passed. Washington. Naval convoys for coastwise shipping are being established estab-lished by the navy department, it was learned Saturday night. Indications were given at t lie department depart-ment that the convoy system for coastwise coast-wise vessels will be continued until the end of the war, or at least until all danger of further submarine raids on this side of the Atlantic is removed. re-moved. Taken in conjunction with unconfirmed uncon-firmed reports from neutral countries that the German high seas lleet is preparing pre-paring for a major stroke against allied commerce generally, the information gives an indication of the steadily expanding ex-panding program of defense being put into operation against further raids. "The vigilance of 'the navy department," depart-ment," declared Secretary of the Navy-Daniels, Navy-Daniels, "will be maintained so long as there is a submarine unaccounted for." Asked if he would bring back any naval units from European waters, Secretary Daniels said : "The war is across the water. That's where our war vessels must be. The presence of a submarine off this coast is harassing and annoying. But it is not the war." Mr. Daniels added that every ship that went overseas is and will lie adequately ade-quately protected. It is known that all important vessels are carried under un-der convoy. The. secretary said the supply of anti-submarine guns is being be-ing satisfactorily augmented and that a gun and a trained gun crew is available avail-able for every trans-Atlantic ship. The arming of coastwise shipping also is being considered. As soon as need of the trans-Atlantic vessels for guns has been entirely firet, supplies will be available for coast ships which it is deemed wise to arm. |