Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-11
SEARCH AMERICAN
SHIP AT PROGRESSO
British Officers Violate Neutrality
Of Mexico and Far Exceed Rights
Under Law of Sea.
NOW WAITING OUTSIDE PORT

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-The
American steamer zeelandia was
forcibly searched by a party from a
British cruiser last week while lying
in the port OF Progreso, Mexico. The
American consul there reports the
cruiser now is lying outside, pre-
sumably waiting to seize the ship.
| on the face Of such a report ds the
consul sent, even though incomplete, the
/ official conclusion here is that the Brit
| ish naval authorities not only violated
Mexican neutrality. but far exceeded
1 their rights in forcibly searching an
! American ship in a neutral port.
Movements of zaeIandia.
The Zeelandia figured much of late In
| reports Of the invest cations of British
agents on the trail OF ships supposed to
| be fitting out In the United states for
! attacN on oil-carrying ships from Mex
team fields. where the British navy draws
great proportion OF its supply Of fuel
oil.
On October the zeelandia, formerly
a Hawaiian ship, mystenously left PEN
sacola, Fla, at night for Tamplco. Mex
leo, carrying a large stock OF provisions
and manned principally by Germans. An
American flag painted on its hull had
been painted over and It was reported
that while at sea 1t flew the German
colors although this was fatty denied
by its owners
The ship moved from Tampico TO Cam
peche. where British agents located 1t
and reported that It bore a large guam
tity of rosln, for which there was no
ostensible use in Mexico, although 1t is
used largely for making shrapnel. They
also reported their suspicious that II
bore a large quantity of copper and
the British view was that the ship waa
waiting for an opportunity TO slip out
with the cargo for some port where II
would find Its way to Great Britain'i
enemies.
viii Make Thorough Inquiry
Nothing further of its movements wat
reported 1t had been forcibly searched
reported until today when the American
consul reported It had been forciblS
searched In port by a party from the Brit
lsh cruiser which had been lying outside
What the searchers found the consu
did not report but inasmuch as he re
: ported the cruiser still lying in wait 1
= was supposed here they found something
a which they DeileNeu AuA
Their action when the zeelandia puts Il
sea.
The forcible searching of an American
ship in neutral port probably woult
constitute one OF the most serious issuei
to arise between the United States and
Great Britain in the controversy now II
the channels Of diplomacy over the Brit
ish navys conduct toward American
i shipping. While awaiting further details
, here officials were silent. thorough
investigation will be made.
Owners Deny British Charges.
NEW YORK. Nov. 1o.-The steamed
} Zealandia, which is reported to hav'
been searched by boarding party fro0
I a British cruiser at Progress. Mex, 4
; owned by the F1ske Trading company o
: New York. The owners said today the!
had received no report from Captain
} Devanchier for a week.
The manager of the F1ske company
again denied that the zealandia haC
taken on board several officers who es
capped from the informed German auxil
larry cruiser Kron Prime Wilhelm at Nor
) folk, Va, or that the vessel had beef
fitted out for the use of Germans in pos