Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1917 — P[?]trolling Atlantic Seaboard Is the Navy’s First Duty. [ARTICLE]

P[?]trolling Atlantic Seaboard Is the Navy’s First Duty.

With big British and French naval officers in conference at Washington with American navy official,s definite steps have been taken toward participation of the American jjavy in the war against Germany. Patrol of the entire Atlantic seaboard, reaching southward to the Panama canal zone, possibly northward to -include Canada, will be the first duty of American warships. With that goes the necessity of guarding against probable extension of the German submarine campaign to include approaches to American ports. British and French ships now on patrol duty will be withdrawn as soon as the American forces have their lines established. The American squadrons will operate from the British and French bases in the south Atlantic Wherever necessary. This was learned in connection with the announcement that Vice Admiral E, M. Browning, of- the British navy,and Rear Admiral R. A. Grassel) of the French navy, are conferring with Secretary Daniels, Admiral Benson, r-hicf of navy operations, and other officers of the American navy.-