New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-06
Scheme to Supply Block
ade Squadron on Har-
Dor Discovered.
TORPEDO BOATS
GUARD NEUTRALITY
Conspirators Face Penalty of
$4,000 and Two Years in
Jail Under Recent Law.

Peaceful, neutral little old New York
( has been for weeks, without knowing
it, playing a real part in the strategy
Of the world war. In fact, the zone of
warfare has been stretched so as to
include this port in its boundaries, for
during these many weeks New York
has been wide open base Of supplies
for half a dozen British wsrships lying
off the harbor. They were the far
flung end Of the ring of iron by which
England hopes to starve Germany into
submission.
And although there has not been the
sound of great guns to startle the
peace of this port, there has been 60
ing on a real battle for many nights
on its supposedly sleeping waters. 1t
was a battle in which stealth was
matched against intrigue and in which
great searchlights mounted on swift,
dark torpedo boat destroyers of the
United States Navy have struck alarm
into the dark corners of the harbor
in their search for violators of the neu-
trality of the port.
Collector of the Port Dudley Field
Malone told part of the story last
night. There was much he did not tell.
lie Is saving that for telling before the
federal grand jury. When he is
through telling 1t, United States At
torncy H. Snowden Marshall expects to
oh 4 20 h.
involved for breach of the neutrality
OF the United States.
War Vessels Sent Here.
Information came TO the Collector
several weeks ago that the British war
ships known to be off the coast were
receiving food coal and even NUM-
tions from this port. lie put George
+. Lamb, head of the neutrality squad,
and special detail OF Secret Service
operatives on the case.
He also sent 10 the Navy Department
and had tho torpedo boat destroyers
McDougal, Drayton and Parker and the
Dolphin, the Secretary Of the Nays
boat, assigned 10 duty under him in
this port.
One of the Secret Service operatives
was placed at the Highland Light, New
watch the waters of there during the
early morning hours, 10 see If any
waiting warships rept in from the sea
to take on supplies from tugs or ves-
sells from this port.
The neutrality squad and Secret Ser
vice men lost themselves along The
waterfront, mixing with strange char
acters, watching every boat, small and
large, taking on supplies, and COM
pairing the things done there with the
official clearances from this port
As for the Collector, he climbed
aboard one Of the 33-knot torpedo boat
destroyers almost every night at mid
night and went gliding about the har-
Dor from Newark Bay to Whitestone,
pOking the searching finger of the
searchlight into tn, dark corners Of
the harbor. More than once they
foun- seagoing tugs surreptitiou. y
taking on supplies in the wee sma'
hours OF the dark mornings.
The result of all these lines Of in
vestIgation came 70 a focus in what
the Collector is convinced is a remark
able conspiracy TO establish here an
extensive organization and cent al
agency to carry on traffic IN supplies
for British cruisers.
Headquarters in Hotel.
Il was learned that part of down
town hotel was engaged as hesdquar-
ters. and that negotiations were opened
by the agents Of the organization with
many tugboat captains and oVpers in
Continued on page ., colum-sS