Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-22
Former U. S. Gunboat Flies the
Nicaraguan Flag.
HAS NO ARMAMENT ABOARD
Commander Britain of the Wheel
ing Finds Papers Regular.
LITTLE FIGHTER FOR SALE
Owners Hope to Dispose of It to
Some South American Repub-
lie, It Is Said.

PUERTO CORTEZ, Honduras. Feb
duary 2e.-The former United States gun
! boat Siren, whose recent mysterious
| movements have caused alarm in some
Central American circles, arrived here
last night flying the Nicaraguan flag.
Commander Britain of the gunboat
Wheeling boarded the Siren Sunday, when
she arrived in the harbor at Ceiba, Hon.
duras. After a thorough investigation of
her papers, which he said were apparently
regular. he returned to his ship.
The little vessel carries no cargo or
armament
The captain of the Siren has full power
of attorney from the owner Of the vessel
to either sell or lease it.
The Siren sailed from Norfolk, Va,
February II, with clearance papers for
Bluefields Nicaragua.
Intended for Trade, It Is Said.
News of the arrival of the condemned
gunboat Siren off the coast of Honduras
| has reached the State Department
through its consular officers at Ceiba and
Puerto Cortez. 1t appears from their re-
ports that the vessel arrived at Ceiba
last Saturday and appeared at Puerto
Cortez yesterday. She was sailing under
the Nicaraguan flag, having been regis
tered before the Nicaraguan consul at
Norfolk before sailing. The American
consul reported that her captain ex-
planned that the Siren was intended for
trade along the north coast OF Honduras.
The vessel was formerly a yacht, built
In Scotland in 1897. and was sold to the
| the outbreak of the Spanish war and con-
verted into a gunboat. She is tiny craft,
according to naval views, with a dis
placement Of only 315 tons.
Still she could render a good account
Of herself with a couple of sx-pounders
and some machine guns. She was never
given an American registry because she
was built in Leith, Scotland.
After some service with the naval mi
htia following the war, the Siren was
dismantled, so far as her war equipment
was concerned, and January IL last was
sold at public auction to the New Or
leans Foundry and Iron Company for
$3.50, at the Norfolk navy yard.
Sale Arouses Suspicion.
She was fitted out for sea at Norfolk,
and while that was going on DR.. Lazo,
the Honduran minister here, became sus-
picious. He suggested to the State De-
partment that the vessel was destined to
| convey an armed expedition to aid Gen.
Bonilla in his revolt against President
Davila OF Honduras.
Accordingly. the State Department had
the Department OF Justice and the Treas
ury watch the Siren, and 1t was made
certain that when she sailed from Nor
folk recently she was not equipped as a
war vessel. nor did she carry a hostile ex-
petition. The American consul's reports
also show that when the Siren arrived at
| Bluehelds. Nicaragua, from Norfolk she
was IN the same unobjectionable condi-
ton.
The officials here are not inclined to
attach much Importance to the arrival of
the Siren in Honduran waters at this
| moment, as Gen. Bonilla is practically
| In complete possession of all the ports
| on the north coast of Honduras and could
probably make short work Of the govern
ment forces If he were allowed a free
! hand by the American naval forces in
| that quarter So 1t is regarded as Dos
sible that the Siren is sent to Central
America as a speculative venture by her
| owners with view to selling her to
some Of the would-be insurrectionists in
some other country than Honduras.