Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-01
Liner New York Plays Search
lights on U. S. Flags Flying
From Each Mast.
WOMAN PASSENGERS TOLD
TO REMAIN CLOTHED
Travellers Describe Exciting Jour-
ney and Also Trips Across Eng
lish Channel From France.

NEW YORK. March 1.-The American
liner New York arrived here today from
Liverpool after having taken unusual
preca utions to make known her ma =
Iiouality while passing through the
war zone declared by Germany around
Great Britain. In addition eNtraordi-
mary precautions against mines were
observed to the great extent Of having
fhe 1ifeboats swung outward, ready for
immediate use if necessary.
Flying the American flag. The New
York left her dock in Liverpool shortly
after midnight February 20. Her lights
v ere all lit as she steamed out to sea
and some of the passengers said that
saarchlightsa played on American fla gs
which rev from almost every mast
Th. ship remained ablaze with light
and with al flags up while steaminss
through the war zone and until safe
waters We're reached.
To guard against the possibility of
contact v it'll mines sharp lookout
vas maintained and everything aboard
was in readiness for launching life
boats in case a mine were encountered.
Women Sit Up All Night.
Woman passengers asserted that it
was suggested to them that perhaps 1T
would he better if they did not go to
bed until the vessel were clear of the
war zone. Some of them STAYED up all
night.
Although it was reported that the
New Tork'S course vas guarded by
british torpedo boats to the limit of
the war zone. no such craft were seen
by those aboard
The New York had a21 passengers
aboard Thirty-one of them, mostly
woman buyers for American business
firms came from Paris to Liverpool to
catch the boat They were delayed be-
York was held at her dock until they
arrived at the request of the Amer
lean ambassador in London.
On their way from Paris to Liver
pool. whittier they had hurried upon
receiving word that the English chan
mel would be closed. the party reached
bieppe, ten minutes after the last boat
left for Dover.
Lifeboats Swing Out.
We then hurried to the train that
took us to Havre, where we caught a
boat for Southampton said Miss Eliz-
sbeth Purcell of this city. one of the
number. The boat to Southampton
left Havre at 40 clock in the morning
and steamed at full speed through the
channel. travelling in a zigzag course
swung out, ready for emergency use,
end officers aboard told us to be pre-
pared to take to them at a moments
notice"
Charles F. Rogers of this city, an
other passenger, sailed from this port
for Liverpool on the steamship Tran
sy1vania. which left New York January
~. Mr.. Rogers said the American pas
sengers aboard the Pennsylvania were
Ecid UP five days at Queenstown. The
Transylvania carried heavy cargo Of
guns, ammunition and aeroplanes.
We took on thirty-five passengers at
Halifax MIR. Rogers said. Before we
reached British waters 1t was reported
that German submarines were watch
ing for us. The captain changed the
vessels course. going into Queenstown,
where we were not supposed to call.
We reached there January 81.
For three days all passengers were
held aboard the ship. Then the British
passengers We're landed. The American
passengers were held two days longer
With the permission of the Transyl-
Nania's captain i sent telegram to
Amba ssador Page at London protesting
against our detention. Apparently this
telegram was needed. for we were
landed and transported to London I
understand that the Pennsylvania is
still at queenstown.
Channel Boat Trip.
The last trip taken by channel boat
from Dieppe to Dover was described
by Mrs. Ceciie Deiterie, n passenger.
1T was an exciting trip Mrs Deiterle
SAL. When the order came to stop
traffic the boat was all ready to go. We
left at night. All lights We're extin-
ECished and We were told to be ready
To take the lifeboats a any moment. The
boat went at full speed and followed A
winding course, the danger of hitting
mines being disregarded In the effort to
make speed and dodge torpedoes"
John NJ. Rogers of Gloucester. n. + q
passenger. said that many of the French
'icid pieces were now being eoutpped
win precision instruments--by means of
winch the range Of a target is found
and the gun is aimed-made in GIouces-
Ter Hitherto such instruments had come
from German3-, for the most part
J. Herbert Duckworth, an American
AVIATOR, was passenger He said his
application to join the British aviation
corps had-heen rejected because he was
Toe, heavy 49, was