The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-19
Neutral Steamer Struck by
Torpedo in Straits of Dow
er and French Boat
Almost Wrecked.
NEITHER SHIP SUNK
German Under Seas Raid is on In
Earnest, But Flrst Blows Were
Not az Spectacular as Was
Expected.
[By Ed. H. Keen, United Press Stan
5CorresDOndent1

Correspondent
LONDON, Feb. ia neutral
steamer has fallen victim to the Ger
man blockade. Within an hour after
the news reached London that the
French steamer Dinorah had been tor
pedies without warning sixteen miles
off Dieppe, the crew of the Norwegian
steamer Belridge, from New Orleans
to Amsterdam, landed at Walmer,
near Dover
They reported that early today
their vessel had either struck mine
or been torradoed by German sup-
marine In the straits of Dover close
to the English coast
A remarkable fact in connection
with the torpedoing of the two ves-
sells was that neither sank. The
Dinorah was towed into Dieppe and
the Belridge into Walmer, a coast
town about ten miles north OF Dover.
Eighteen members Of the crew of the
Belrige who took to the boats after
her lower deck was awash, are miss
ing. They have not been heard from
since, although tugs have been search
ing for them since tfie-7report OF the
occurrence was received.
In-as-much as there Is no British
mines at this particular point the
naval authorities declared that If a
mine was struck it was planted by
the Germans and within the last
twenty four hours. The general incli-
nation, however. is to accept the be-
lief that it was torpedo from a Ger
man submarine that hit the tanker.
Indicating the acceptance by the
British government that the German
menace is a real one, Is the dfscour-
aging of all passenger travel to the
continent, passports and permission to
sail are withheld and number of
regular cross channel sailings have
been cancelled. although mail and
cargo vessels are still in service. All
of the advices received here agree
that th.. German fleet is not partici-
pating. Zeppelins are patrollfng the
North sea and watching for vessels
with cargoes of foodstuffs Following
the holding up of the Dutch steamer
Helena by Zeppelin which, after as
certainins the identity of the steamer,
signalled it to pass on. came reports
today that other Zeppelins have been
sighted in the air. 1t is believed hers
that they ar, ccouting and that they
have a general plan whereby they
can signal the approach of steamers
to the various German submarine
bases.
This is the first time, with the ex-
ception of th, abortive raid along the
British coast. that the Zeppelins have
actually been real factors in the war
operations. 1t is generally believed
that not only will they be used as
scouts. but that another visitation can
b, expected from them at the first
favorable opportunity.
h That such raid is expected Is In
dicated by the extreme precautions
taken in all of the coast cities. Anti
aircraft guns have been mounted at
many points and double crews are In
attendance at all times Further pre-
cautions in connection with the dis
playing of lights are being taken
Although the German threats have
intimated that the blockade will be
general. officials were today inclined
to the belief that few of the German
under-sea boats would venture OUT of
the chanr,l and the North sea. They
believe that Liverpool shipping Is in
no particular CANCER despite the fact
that German submarines already have
made the Irish sea.
Further losses of ships are expected
today. The German submarines have
now had time to make their agreed
on bases and they are certain to try
to sink every ship they encounter.
Whether the Norwegian government
will protest the torpedoeing of the
Belridge is not yet known.