New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-12
AMERICANS SEE
zEPPELINS RAID
ENGLISH PORT
With Others on Dutch
Liner They Watch
Bombs Dropping.

A hold-up Of four and one-half days
in the Downs by the British aIthori-
ties gave passengers on the Holland
America liner Nieuw Amsterdam an
opportunity to see German aeroplanes
and Zeppelins make raid on British
seaport.
The liner, which arrived mere yes
terday with 81 passengers. left Rot
terdam May 20. She was halted in the
Downs to comply with the British de-
cree that no merchandise should leave
Germany by way of Rotterdam after
March IS. The search of her cargo
was minute and 1000 bills of lsding
were closely scrutinized.
On the evening of the liners srri-
val in the Downs Charles Haas, of San
Francisco, and Louis Dinkelspiel,
saloon passengers, were fishing from
the liners stern when they saw two
Zeppelins moving rapidly over Rams
gate The shore batteries were trained
upon the arships and the shooting
was heard plainly on board the Nleuw
Amsterdam. Some of the passengers
remained in their staterooms, others
hid themselves between decks. while
many observed the spectacle from the
promenade deck.
According TO Mr.. Haas and Mr.. Din
kelspiel who saw the beginning of the
attack. the bombs from the Zeppelins
could be heard as they exploded, and
columns of water sent up by them as
they hit the sea could be distinctly
seen.
There were two separate attacks
made by German taubes. The first Oc-
Cured on May 90 between 3 and 4
p. m, while the Nieuw Amsterdam was
in the North Sea and only few hours
out of Rotterdam. Three aeroplanes
flying about 1000 feet high came out
from the land and, plunging down sud-
denly over a feet of patrolling trawl-
ers, dropped ten bombs, all of which
went wide of their marks. One of the
trawlers headed for the liner AS II to
seek shelter in the proximity of a
neutral vessel. Another attack was
made upon trawlers while the Nieuw
Amsterdam was anchored in the Downs.
The British authorities took six pas
sengers from the liner. Two OF them,
Isak Aronsfrau and his brother Moritz,
were in the first cabin. They are Aus
trians who had been in business in Bel
gium for fifteen years. They had about
100000 in cash with them and dia-
monds valued at s250,000. The money
was delivered to the Austrians by the
purser when they left the ship, but the
diamonds, which were listed on the
manifest as "cargo" and kept in the
strong room, were brought here.
When it became known that the dia-
monds were on board the vessel the
customs officials became interested and
were told they were in the keeping of
-s.a l., nj l., 1.1
here would be brought in by the proper
channels.
Soren Listoe. American Consul Gen
oral at Rotterdam, returned on the
Nieuw Amsterdam. He had recently
made numerous tours through Belgium,
and declared that there was in that
country now about $4,000 tons of food
stuffs, which would last the population
until August. The Germans occupying
Belgium, he said, had been kind in the
work of distributing food sent to the
starving nation.
at is a sad looking country" said
Mr.. Listoe There is no doubt about
that Holland is taking care of about
100000 Belgians now within her lines.
Many Belgian farmers have returned
to their farms and many have gone
to England"
The Rev. Tertius van Dyke, pastor
OF the Spring Street Presbyterian
Church. of this city, and son of Henry
van Dyke. American Minister to The
Hague, returned on the liner, accom-
Jsnied by his mother and his ten-year-
ole sister, Katrina. He had been act
ing as his fathers private secretary.
"The situation in Holland is un-
changed" he said. "The nation wishes
TO remain neutral. In Holland they
look upon the situation between Ger
many and the United States as serious,
maintain neacen