The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-21
Lack of Definite News Bal anced by Host of RumOrs and Leaves Officials in State of Apprehension
OTHER VESSELS ARE
 REPORTED SUNK, BUT
 FACTS ARE UNKNOWN
Fear Felt for Safety of the Lapland With 13 Ameri- cans on Board Two Americans Missing

New York, August 20.-The British censor apparently si- fenced today the wires leading to the White Star line here from England. Only one dis patch relating to the sinking of the Arabic, a message detailing certain changes in previous lists of survivors and missing, came through.
 The lack of definite news was bal. anced by host of rumors that left of ficials in a keen state of apprehension as to the fate of at least one more large steamer in or near the war zone, the Lapland, which left New York August 12 for Liverpool with SIS pas sengers, including 13 Americans and a capacity cargo, including war muni- tions.
 A report of dis sster to another White Star vessel also was circulated. It said the liner Bowie. a freigl,ter departing from New York August s, with a big cargo, but no passengers for Manchester. had met the Arabie's fate.
 News that the Bowie had been sunk was received in a press dispatch from London at 5:$ D. m. today. Later the press association, a British bureau. re- ported that she had arrived safely at Liverpool. The White Star line was with out advices.
 third report dealt with the steamer Nicosian of the Leyland line. A rumor that she. too, had been destroyed by a German submarine boat was current, but like many similar rumors that agi- tated ship owners here recently, it lacked verification.
 RumOrs Afloat
 Coupled with this rumor, whose source could not be learned. was the report that she was a troop ship. This was disproven by maritime records, which showed that she sailed from New Orleans August 1 for Avonmoth and Liverpool. The Nicos- ian IS slow steamer and shipping men estimated she was just about due to ar rive in war zone waters. She carried no 
 The Nicosian is new boat, built in 1912. The Bowie, whose keel was laid in Belfast 23 years ago, could make IS knots When she sailed from New York she car ried a crew of 15O to 175 men. all of whom had signed in England and none of whom. so far as could be learned tonight, was an American. Inasmuch as the list of the crew was not obtainable here. being in the lines possession at Liverpool. of ficials were not positive rnar there were no Americans aboard.
 Ship officials were frankly anxious about the Laplands The same report of disaster having overtaken her was cur. rent in Queenstown, but cable dispatch from there said it was thought probable the Lapland had been confused with the Bristols liner New York City, which fell prey to a submarine yesterday. The New York City's crew of 5 and her captain were landed at Queenstown today. .s
 The New York City likewise was a British liner. She was q freighter and left this port July 2s with cargo for Bristol. which she landed safely. On August 1S she left Bristol in ballast on her return trip Her agents here received confirmation of her sinking late today.
 Fears Allayed
 Quecnstown's interpretation of the dis turbing rumors about the Lapland failed t. give much comfort to the Lapland's < owners. The Lapland, under charter to the White Star line, sailed from. this port August 12 with SIS passengers and a large and valus ble cargo , The usual rigid inspection of merchandise and bag gage taken aboard was applied fn her case. She was expected to arrive in Liverpool late tonight or tomorrow morn Ing. ~
 P. A. Franklin. receiver of the Interna- tional Mercantile Marine company, en- deavored to learn by cable whether the Arabic was conveyed The significance of an armed convoy, ,,,he said, was that such an entirely new aspect would he placed on the incident. should 1t be es- abolished. as some reports have intimated, that a British warship was conveying her or had been conveying her short time before the torpedo was fired.
 "No word has been received from the British admiralty,' MT. Franklin said. that the vessel would be conveyed. No was made to convoy her. To the best of my knowledge there was no convoy. and I think I would have been advised if there had been one"
 Had the vessel been conveyed, MT. Franklin sagreeds she would have been subject to- attack by submarine with put warning.
 Personal Inquiries
 There were few personal inquiries con- cerfiingi the Arabic dt the White Star line today Ut was announced hc wever, that the offices would be kept open tn to answer inquiries. and in the