Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-08-08
Unpacking Guns or Taking Abnor-
NAL Amount of Coal is Sign
of Conversion
OLYMPIC AND THE vADERLAND
British and Belgian Steamers Prob
ably Will Be Held,
RAINBOW IS AT SAN FRANCISCO
British Cruiser Comes Into HarbOr
Mt Golden Gate, hut Must Leave
Port within Twenty
-Four Hours,

WASHINGTON, Aug. Foreign
merchant ships being converted for
war purposes or carrying foreign re-
servists in organized manner will not
be permitted to clear from ports of
the United States.
Instructions to aid the customs
authorities at New ork In enforcing
President Wilson's neutrality proc
lama,ion we're telegraphed today
from the Department of Commerce.
Wire the department before is
suing clearance papers to foreign
vessels, unless you are satisfied, az
ter careful insection. that the ship
has not made any preparations while
in port tending in any way to its
conversion into vessel OF war,
said the department
Taking on an abnormal amount OF
COAL except In the case OF colllers, would
indicate such conversion. Unpacking OF
guns already on board would be conclu-
would Indicate conversion. II must be
clear that It is not to be used for trans
portation Of reserves or recruits for a
foreign army or navy, This does not
prevent transportation OF passengers In
the usual sense. as where there are
women and children and men Of different
nationalities, even t''vugh among them
there were a few reserves without your
knowledge.
III its passengers are nearly all men
and practically all the same nationality.
clearance cannot be granted. It must be
unquestionabe that 1t has no arms or
munitions OF war aboard Have repre-
sentatives of each foreign vessel in your
port certify TO this department whether
II is merchant vessel intended solely
for the carriage OF passengers and
freight, excluding munitions OF war. or
whether IL is part OF the armed force
of its nation. This information is for
the purpose of maintaining the neutrality
Of the United States under the recent
proclamation of the president. Clearance
will be refused in the absence of this cer-
tlficate."
NEW YORK, Aug. THE Olympic
crack ship of the White Star fleet may
not be permitted 10 sail tomorrow for
Southampton. inasmuch as II belongs to
the British naval reserve. After receiv-
ing the Department of Commences in
structions concerning enforcement Of neu-
trality. customs officials declined today
to say whether they would give II clear
ance.
The Red Star liner. Vaderland, booking
only male passengers for Belgium and
with its entire steerage accommodating
1000 persons placed at the call OF the
Belgian consul here for reservists, may
also be held, according TO customs Of
flclals.
Rainbow May BE Detained.
SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. THE Ger
man freighter Alexandria OF the Cosmos
line, with 100000 cargo In its hold. was
sighted five miles outside the heads. I
bound In. at 1850 a.. m today. Had the
British cruiser Rainbow. which passed In
two hours and twenty minutes earlier.
delayed its arrival It might have made a /
rich prize OF war.
No civilians were allowed aboard the
Rainbow but It was learned from the
boarding officers that Captain Walter
Hose made informal application to be al
lowed TO take on coal He was Informed
that the application must be put in |
writing.
Captain Hose was asked his intended
destination and he was understood 10
have replied he was bound south, sup
posedly TO Join the Algerian and Shear
water II such is the case. he will not be |
allowed 20 coal. as the neutrality regula- !
tons provide that he be allowed 10 take /
on only enough coal for a run 10 the
next home port. which. in this case, !
would be Victoria, b. c.
AnOth~r Neutrality ProeIsms tiOn.
WAsHIRGTOE. Aug. Upon 70 /
ceipt today from the Russian embassy /
Of confirmation OF Austria -Huugary's |
declaration Of war against Russia. off
ctais Of the SKATE department heTan
drafting another neutTatfty proclamation
10 define the position of the Uafted
tcoattErea % Rsgs rwaJ