HARRISBURG dSfik TELEGRAPH LXXXVI— No. 84 22 PAGES • RAIDERS OFF U. S. COAST; GERMANS BLOW UP SHIP; RUSH WAR PREPARATIONS HOLD SHIPS BECAUSE OF SEA RAIDERS German Commerce Destroyers Sighted Off Nantucket and the Virginia Capes; American Cruisers in Hot Pursuit of Enemy Craft; Merchantment Told to Remain in Port Until Further Notice; Warned by Wireless. \\ ashington, April 7. —Reports of German commerce raiders oft Atlantic ports were flashed along the seaboard to-day and all ship ping practically was tied up while naval patrols went out to estab lish the identity of mysterious ships reported near the lanes. It w as the first breath of war at the doors of America and it sent a thrill through the country. Ihe first report came from Nantucket light vessel which saw a strange ship passing west at / .20 o clock this morning and promptly reported it to the Boston navy yard and the Navy Department. Destroyer flotillas are at sea in the vicinity and presumably they heard the wireless warning which swept the coast line and set out to locate the mysterious craft. Meanwhile shipping was warned not to venture out. Soon afterward a report of a raider off the Virginia capes came from Hampton Roads where shipping also was held in port while armed craft went to sea to investigate. 1 Expect Many Reports I Navy officials expect many reports! of raiders while the sea coast is at high tension and many such prob-1 ably will turn out to be unoffending i tramps. No precautions are being! overlooked, however, and the naval • patrol is on the alert to examine all | strange ships. Officials considered it would be! strange for a raider to venture so j close to ports which are known to be guarded. They would expect a raider I to lie off at sea on the edges of the I shipping lanes instead of venturing i close enough to shore to be observed arfd reported. It was considered not improbable! that the wireless warnings caused by ! the mysterious shir- passing N'antuck et were heard all along the coast and ! might be responsible for other reports j of a commerce raider lying in wait, j Raider Officially Reported Off the Virginia Capes By Associated Press Newport News, Va., April 7. The ' presence of a German raider oft tho Virginia capes was officially reported here to-day. A sea-going tug has i been dispatched to sea to warn all outgoing and incoming vessels and to! order all outgoing vessels to turn! back. The tug is equipped with wire- ! less and is expected to reach all ships! in the danger zone. Captain Scofield, of the American! steamer Mattoa, now loading here, stated that the master of the tug call- | ed on him as he was passing out about I 9:30 a. m., and ordered him to re-! main in the harbor until further no tice. Elks Will Turn Their Home Over to Government Tt was announced this morning that • the Harrisburg Eodge of Elks will j turn its building over to the Govern ment and that every member pledged ! his loyal support to the President. I ITHE WEATHER! For HurrlMburff nml vicinity* Fair, continued cool to-iilht and prob ably Sunday, heromlnff unmet* 1 tied by Sunday nlichts lowe*t I temperature about 30 decree* to night. For lOaMtern Fennwyl van la i Fair, continued eool to-niuht and prob ably Sunday, becoming; unnettled by Sunday nlffbtt ntronic north went ulndn, dlmlnlfthlnff. Hlver The lower portion* of tle North and Went brnnclieM and the iimln river will rlne nlowly. The Juni ata, Upper North and Upper Went branches and their tributaries will fall to-nlftht and Sunday. A Mtafce of about 8.5 feet IN Indicat ed for Harrlsburir Sunday morn- In*. General Condition* The ntorm 1* now central* over \ew Rwcland, moving Mlowly northeantwnrd. It ha* decreaned Nomewhat In energy. I