Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-13
NATION WIDE HUNT
FOR BOMB -PLACERS
Conspiracy to Blow Up Ships
Carrying Cargoes to Allies
Believed to Exist.
MONEY SUPPLY NOT LACKING
Special Guard for British Embassy
Following Threat Against
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice.
SUPPLY NOT LACKING
rspecial to The Times-Dispa,ch. ]

iSDeClai 10 i ne Times DiSDa ten.
WASHINGTON. July 12.-Govern-
ment authorities are proceeding on the
theory that there exists conspiracy
to blow up ships plying between Amer
lean ports and those of the allies and
that the recent attempts are the re-
suit OF carefully organized general
plot.
Secret Service agents and the police
OF the coast cities have begun n nation
wide man-hunt for the persons in
voived. The statement was made this
afternoon that there is some reason to
believe that the attempt made months
ago 10 blow up the French liner La
Touraino was one Of the first efforts OF
this conspiracy.
In some quarters the conspiracy is
held responsible for the accidents on
the steamers Bankdale, Devon City,
kirkoswald. Cressington Court and
Lord Orne. Despite the denials of the
master of the Minnehaha. there is a
suspicion among Secret Service men
that the fire there was the result of
a bomb. and that the fact is neces-
sarily kept from the public
Behind the gang engaged in the
work there is supposed TO be an album
dance Of money. and one of the i'm
portant duties of the Secret Service is
to run down the source OF these funds.
The letter signed "Pearce" sent 10 2
New Orleans paper, declaring that
bombs had been placed upon the Baron
Napier and the Howth Head is dis
credited by the police authorities here
who, after carefully reading it, are in
clined to believe 1t to be the work of
some practical Joker. Nevertheless,
the governments agents in New Or
leans have been instructed to leave no
stone unturned in their effort to locate
the sender of the letter. "Pcarce" was
the name Holt used in the Washington
letter about the Capitol bomb.
SPECIAL GUARD PROVIDED
FOR BRITISH EMBASSY
The threat against the life of Sir
Cecil Spring-Rice. the British ambas-
sador, was Immediately taken cogniz-
ance OF by the local authorities. and a
special guard of plain clothes men put
upon the duty of guarding that EN-
bassy and its inmates. Ever since the
war the residences of the diplomatic
representatives of the powers now at
war have been watched by the local
police. Immediately following the de-
at the German embassy was increased,
on account of the murmurings against
the German amba assador, because of the
warnings he had printed in the news
papers advising passengers not TO take
passage on that ship.
In the same way the guard of plain
clothes men around the British en-
bassy has been increased since the pub
lication of the latest threat. An addi-
tiona1 plain clothes man was placed
there after the attack on j. Picrpont
Morgan by Holt. The Washington
police are prepared to provide per-
sonal hodysuard for the ambassador,
but so far he has not ed for it,
Al the British embassy il was stated
to-day that there was no information
velating TO the supposed planting of
bombs in the ships that sailed from
New Orleans on Thursday last other
than that contained in the newspapers
The embassy also denied that any
special Secret Service work was being
done in its behalf TO prevent the plac-
ing OF explosives on war cargoes leav-
ing the ports of this country. 1t was
stated that the embassy was relying
entirely upon the protection afforded
by the United States government
NO INFORMATION
FROM SHIPS AT SEA
Secretary of the Navy Daniels, who
last night sent out n general wireless
warning in the hope OF reaching the
two steamers and advising them of the
alleged planting Of bombs. said late this
afternoon he had received no further
information. Although the Howth Head
hoc t-i
would he overhaulcd by some other
vessel before she got out into the ocean
and headed toward Belfast The Baron
Napier is headed for Norfolk, where
she Will take on coal before starting
across the Atlantic.
Police Commissioner Woods, of New
York. asked Major Pullman. of the
Washington police force, over the long
distance telephone this afternoon If he
had any information concerning the
new "Pearce" letter printed in New
Orleans Major Pullman said that
nothing with regard to this phase of
the case has developed i'm Washing
ton.
AS result of the attempt to blow
up the senate wing Of the Capitol
hfteen new watchmen have been put
on duty. and all men on leave have
been summoned to return. The authori-
ties of the Capitol have been making
a careful investigation to learn how
Holt was able to carry his bomb into
the building and plant il without being
seen.
NO BOMBS FOUND
ON THE BARON NAPIER