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Show DESTROYER TARGET " OF GERMAN U-BOAT AMERICAN VESSEL ATTACKED BY SUBMARINE HUNDRED MILES SOUTH OF NEW YORK. Believed That Rigid Patrol Has Been 1 Established Off Atlantic Coast, With Heavier Craft Operating on Outer Circle. Washington. Warning of the profo-ftLlo profo-ftLlo presence of a German submarine off the Atlantic coast was sent broadcast broad-cast to all Hlilps early Tuesday, April B7, upon receipt at the navy department depart-ment of a report from the destroyer finill.li, on patrol duty, that a torpedo tutd crossed her bows during the night. Following Is the statement ls-uod ls-uod by the department: "Reported from Fire Island light-Ship light-Ship to the naval stations at Boston and New York at 3:30 a. m. on the 17th an enemy sulmiarlne was sighted ' by the U. S. S. Smith running apparently appar-ently submerged. Submarine fired a torpedo at tho U. S. S. Smith, which missed tier by thirty yards. The wake of the torpedo was plainly seen crossing cross-ing the bow. Submarine disappeared." disap-peared." Tho Incident serves to illustrate the fact that a rigid patrol has been established es-tablished off the Atlantic coast. No dotalls of Its operations have been niado ptillillc. Prosumalbly the destroyers and heavier craft are operated on the outer circle of the patrol. Motor Craft form the inner lines which are being extended as rapidly as suitable boats wi bo equipped and provided 'with crews. Whether the presence of the German Ger-man submarine merely foreshadows a sporadic raid such as the U53 conducted con-ducted off the New England coast, or whether it is the signal for the beginning begin-ning of a general submarine blockade of the Atlantic coast is not known. The attack by the U-boat is Germany's Ger-many's tflrst recognition of the state of iwar declared by the United States. It was stated in Germany soon after the fiction of congress that no aggressive eteps would be taken against tie United Unit-ed States. Practically no American' officials believed this statement, however, how-ever, and stops to meet aggressive action ac-tion were taken at oace. The probability prob-ability of submarine attack on unprotected unpro-tected seaboard cities and towns, raids on shipping within sight of American shores and a submarine blockade of the principal Atlantic ports -with the (purpose of terrorizing shipping and people were expected. |