The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-04-14
PLOT TO AID SHIPS
BRITISH SHIPS ARE SUPPLIED
FROM NEW YORK.
HARBOR IS SEARCHED

HARBOR Is SEARCHED
Fast Sailing Torpedo Boat Destroyers
Skip Over Dark Waters Seeking
Those Who Are Violating Neutral
ity amations-Activity Of Of
cials Kept Secret.
| Evidence of a widespread conspira-
cy to violate the neutrality proclama-
ton of President Wilson by the es-
tablishment in New York of an extern
sive organization and central agency
to supply the British warships lying
outside the three-mile zone with food
and fuel is to be presented to the fed
eral grand jury by Collector Of the
Port Malone.
The facts on which he is prepared
to base such an allegation were col
lected by Mr.. Malone in a series OF
spectacular midnight tours Of the
waters surrounding New York, which
he made aboard the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Parker, one Of the fastest
ships of this type in the service.
| With a powerful searchlight to
guide him, Mr.. Malone has secured
the docks along the Hoboken and
New York waterfronts, and has dash
ed out to sea in search Of carriers
which he had reason to believe were
violating the laws.
The Collector made his tours On
board the MacDougal, following a
long conference with United States
District Attorney Marshall. He said
Just before starting, that he expected
to ask the grand jury to act without
further delay.
| Coincident with these develop.
ments it became known that Mr.. Ma
lone had called upon the government
for additional ships and was planning
effectually to seal the port Of New
York to the British vessels. He now
has under his direction for that pur.
pose the torpedo boat destroyers Mac.
/ Dougal and Parker, each capable Of 3
speed of SO knots; the destroyer
Drayton, which is Of an older type;
the Dolphin, Secretary Daniels ship
which carries four six-inch guns, ant
naval tug. Two more torpedo boat
destroyers are expected to arrive
within a few days for scout duty il
connection with Mr. Malone's plans
All of these ships are equipped
with wireless, and Mr.. Malone ex
planned that he was in touch by tele
phone also with the naval stations a.
Tompkinsville, Kill Won Kull, ant
Whitestone.
Cooperating with Mr.. Malone il
the work Of breaking up the alleged
. conspiracy are the members of thu
+ Neutrality Squad, headed by Georgt
F. Lamb and a score Or more Of sec
ret service agents who were sen
from Washington at the Collector
request. They have been working
day and night for more than a month
.. securing the waterfront and accom-
panying Mr.. Malone on the mysteri
!, Gus and exciting scouting trips abou
the harbor and in the open sea.
In this way they have covered
, every wharf and pier in the port o
!, New York from Newark Bay tt
Whitestone, the territory under th'
Jurisdiction Of the Collector, ant
have south to detect sea-going tug
and other vessels upon which suspi
, cion rested.
A secret service agent has beer
stationed at the Highland Light a
Navesink, n. j., every morning, ant
it has been Lis duty to scan the hori
zon with powerful telescope fo
vessels carrying supplies to the Brit
ish Warships. Whether any vessel
actually had been caught in the &C
of violating the neutrality proclama
ton by transhipping supplies Mr.. Ma
:, lone would not say, inferring tina
such information would come ou
only when the case was placed befor'
the federal grand jury.
The investigations Of Mr.. Malone
agents on land and sea have disclos
ed, it is understood, that part Of ;
downtown hotel was engaged as ;
headquarters by the alleged conspira
tors, and that there the plans were
formulated and orders issued.
An organization Of great power ant
. influence was formed, it is asserted
, and negotiations were opened by it.
: agents with dozens Of captains ant
: owners of vessels who live in New
York, Philadelphia and the New Eng
land states. The services of man.
captains were engaged, it is said, ant
a fleet Of big tugboats was put int
| service to move supplies from variou!
points to the British warships. Elk
/ perience6 crews were engaged quietl.
to operate the tugs, and were i'm
: pressed with the necessity Of silence
1t is understood evidence has beer
presented to the collector that the
principal operatives Of private de
tective agency, which is known al
over the country, have been working
with the agents of the organization
I, So much information has been OBJ
!, tanned that Mr.. Malone has been able
to outline his case and his last tour
was made to obtain few detail:
. which, he believes, will insure action
by the grand jury that will break VI
| the conspiracy and make it Impossible
for the British ships to use New YORK
as base Of supplies.
/, A SSuSdllOu Is plOu1lSSO dlIcl LIN
, facts have been placed before the
grand jury. While Mr.. Malone would
not discuss the case in detail he ad
mitted making the trips in the tor
pedo boats and did not attempt. tc
; deny that he had obtained evidence
which had astounded him.
\ Mr.. Malone has boared the Parker
four nights of each week and his
tours have continued from just after
midnight until o'clock in the morn,
ing, when the torpedo boat has slip,
ped back quietly to her pier. The col
lector assumed personal charge Of
these trips. On other nights he has
inspected the docks along the water
front and conducted secret investiga-
I tions of the cargoes which were being