South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-19
ZEPPELINS HALT
NEUTRAL SHIPS
IN WAR ZONE
EnuIiSh Vessels Have Thus Far
Escaped Destruction But
Germany Has Lost Two
$4,000 AirShipS.

LONDON, Feb. 19.--English ships
have thus far escaped destruction or
damage in the bread war in which
German submarines and airships are
cooperating in an attempt to cut off
Englands food supply. The only
losses suffered thus far by either Of
the belligereus nations has been suf-
pelin airships of the feet that Ger
mans are using to patrol the North
sea and 10 flash TO submarines word
of the approach of cargo ships have
already been wrecked upon the coast
of Denmark.
With the war zone proclamation in
effect for less than two days the Ger
mans nave thus suffered monetary
loss OF 5000, 600, the cost OF the Zep-
pehns lost off Denmark not having
less than 100000 each.
THAT Germany had carried out her
threat to use the ZePpelins in her
new campaign against England was
definitely confirmed today by dis
patches from Rotterdam telling how
, the Dutch steamer Helena was held
up by the Zeppelin L-5 IN the North
sea. The zesL description OF the in
cident was given by the correspond
ent of the Daily Express who tele-
graphed as follows:
The captain Of the Dutch steamer
Helena has just described TO me how
his ship was held up 40 miles from
HaskS lightship in the North sea by
I a German airship which descended
near the sea and hOisted signals or
dering the steamer to heave TO.
OverhauIed by Zeppelin
The Helena was OVerhauled by
Zeppelin LIS at 10 a. n. The morn
ing was clear and in the sunshine the
airship was seen at a great altitude
approaching swiftly and rocking like
Il schooner in rough sea. 1t flew
directly over the Helena, whose crew
distinctly saw Is or 20 persons in its
three cars, which were connected by
| covered gangWay. The men who
wore dark close fitting tunics, caps
like hoods and goggles. They watched
the Helena through glasses IN a kind
of turret in the fOrepart of the air
, ship. The crew Of a quick-tiring gun
were at their stations and a great
naval ensign flew at the stern of the
gas bag.
The airship circled the Helena
twice, then appeared to be satisfied
and after exchanging signals returned
I in the direction of the coast"
According to dispatches from
Copenhagen, the Zeppelin wrecked
off Esjberg yesterday was the La.
whose sister ship, L-3, was destroyed
on FanOe island the day before.
The Germans declared at the Of
! fetal inquiry" says the correspondent
of the Daily Express, that they had
escaped from a wrecked fishing
! schooner. They then confessed they
were survivors from a Zeppelin.
Set Ship Afire and Jump.
IN Wednesday nights storm the
airships got into difficulties. They
/ tried to steer in the teeth of the gale
! but the motor smashed as they near
I ed shore. and, driven down by the
} snow, the captain gave orders to set
| the ship on fire and leap for their
! lives.
! THE whole ship was ablaze as the
| men leaped overheard from a fair
! height, some two or three miles from
/ shore.
! There were Is men on board and
/ four were lost. The survivors swan
about, clinging to the wreckage, and
! eventually reached shore near Varde,
| where. realizing they were on neutral
ground, they mSde for the railroad
J station and tried to escape by a pass
/ ing train. One man broke both legs
1 in jumping from the Zeppelin
The men viii be interned at Odense.