Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-10
SOLID SHOTS ARE FIRED
TO STOP AMERICAN SHIP

SAN JUAN. P. R., December 10
Four blank shots and two solid shots
were fired by the French cruiser Des-
cartes in holding up the American
steamship Coamo yesterday.
A French lieutenant who boarded the
Coamo said orders had been given to
take all subjects of Germany and her
allies from ships crews. beginning De-
cember s, and to take all such persons
from among the passengers after De-
cember is.
After the six shots had been fired and
the Coamo had stopped small boat
i put out from the cruiser. with the lieu
tenant and his men. On boarding the
Coamo the lieutenant proceeded 10 capt
Barbours cabin and demanded that the
captain produce lists of the passengers
and crew.
The passengers were alarmed, and
ran from the statetooms in their night
clothes.
Capt Barbour asked why the Des-
cartes had not waited until morning
to stop the Coamo, SO as to avoid
alarming the passengers. The Heu-
tenant replied he feared the steamship
would have reached port
Captain Makes Protest.
The captain protested against the ac-
ton of the lieutenant in taking OF the
four German firemen. saying his YES
sci never had been boarded before. The
lieutenant then informed him of the
orders he said had been issued.
The German firemen were paid off be-
fore being taken from the Coamo and
the passengers gathered on the deck
to wish them good luck.
The American steamship Caroiha
sailed from this port Wednesday after
noon and is due in New York Monday.
1t was not known here that Chief
Steward Schaade of the Carolina had
been taken off until the arrival of the
Coamo.
Saw Wireless Was Used.
Passengers on the Coamo say they
were informed by members of the crew
of the Descartes that the cruiser re-
ceived a message from San Juan We'd
nesday.
1t is also learned that the Hamburg
American steamships President and
Odenwald, which are informed here, re-
Gently asked permission to get up
steam and test their wireless appa-
ratus. -,
watch over them. About week ago.
following these activities on the Ger
man vessels, the Descartes was sight
ed off the coast here
No Official Report Received.
The state Department today still was
without OIQClat report VI tHc dStioh "a
the French cruiser Descartes in hold
ing up the American steamships Coamo
and Carolina. 1t was said that If the
Coamo was fired upon the gravity OF
the situation was materially increased.
INQUIRIES for details have been dis
patched to Europe and to Porto Rico.
The action of holding up the Coamo
is contrary to principles for which the
United States has contended, and il
official reports corroborate press re-
ports the entire matter probably will |
become the subject of diplomatic pro-
test. The United States will base its
action upon the celebrated case of
Mas son and Sliden, the Confederate COM
missioners who were removed from a
British ship during the civil war.
News dispatches were taken in on
cial circles to mean that Great Britain
and France had engaged upon a policy |
of clearing the seas of every enemy
subject The recent seizure of the
steamship President Mitre lends weight
to this belief.
The quoted statement of a French
lieutenant regarding the present and
future policy of France was read with
much interest