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Show ENEMY FLEET; -, AFPROAGHING COASTS U.S. Atlantic Fleet Battleships, Stripped Fpr Action, Trying to Prevent Attacking At-tacking Force From Entering the Chesapeake Bay ) Washington, Oct. 5. Theoretically Theoretical-ly the United States Is at war tonight. to-night. By somo routo unknown to Admiral Fletcher, commanding tho defending naval force, a great enemy fleet is approaching tho cntranco of Chesapeake bay with the purpose of establishing a base, which, if effect-cd, effect-cd, would open tho way for an attack at-tack on tho national capital. Admiral Fletcher Is unawaro of the Ienomy's objective and knows only that ho Is operating somowhero off tl'.o Atlantic coast between Maine nnd Florida. Hear Admiral Benson, chief of operations, op-erations, In accordance with plans worked out by tho Navy War college at Newport, n. I., has notified the navy yards along the Atlantic coast to bo prepared to repair Immediately any of tho ships putting back Into port In a disabled condition. In the-or., the-or., many morchant vessels have ', been commandeered by tho government govern-ment nnd are lying In port, loaded v.Ith supplies, ammunition and fuel, av-altlng call from the Warships that, havo depleted their stores, to put to sea and replenish them. All along the const mine fields have been laid and submarines aro b'lnf In wait for the approaching enemj ships, In case they evade the fleet. Not a branch of the serylco, with the sxceptlon of the aeroplane corps har been overlooked by navy department alllcfals in preparing to meet the attack. Vice Admiral Mayo, commanding tho attackers, has been glvena force .heoretlcally superior in strength tc 'hat of Admiral Fletcher, his xru'lsere lestroyors and other vessels ropre-icntlng ropre-icntlng powerful fighting units. |