The farmer and mechanic., 1915-10-26
OFFICIALS PROBING
CAMPAIGN To RAID
COMMERCE. At sen
Filibustering Move Against
Mexico Also Is Being
investigated
WASHINGTON BUSY
WORKING ON MYSTERY
Departure Of Sea-Going Motor
Boats, Escape Of German
Officers, and American
Yachts In Gulf Of Mexico
Looked On With Suspicion
By Government Authorities
WASHINGTON BUSY
WORKING ON MYSTERY

CJsy tho Aassciaaed rrsael.
Washington. Oct. IA tangled
sfSein OF circumstances is perplexfng
officials here. pointing either to the
Institution OF 81 new commerce raid
tng compaign by Germans in the Car
ribbean sea, CIR the beginning OF Sc
riss Of filibustertng expeditions against
Mexico. The Justice, navy and state
departments have worked on the mys-
terry several weeks without success
The departure OF several sea going
motor boats, the escape of German
warrant officers interned al Norfolk
and the mysterious movements OF sew
eral American yachts in the Gulf OF
MexioOs have bafiied not only officials
OF the washington government who
are anxious to prevent violations OF
neutrality through use OF American
territory as base OF naval operations
but also agents OF the British govern
ment, who fear h commerce raid1ns
campaign is about to he begun against
the tank steamers which carry oil
from Mexican ports for use OF the
British navy. The circumstances
which officials believe are all con-
nscted in a general way. follows
L. The sudden departure Of six
fnterned German warrant officers
from Norfolk In the motor yacht
Eclipse, provision for several days
voyage.
2. The arrival at Buena Ven
tura, Colombia. OF an American
ship Academy" from San Fran
DISCO. heavily provisioned. One
OF the owners Of the Academy
telegraphcd the government here
that the vessel had no fnstruc-
tions to go to Colombia The cap
tain OF the vessel claimed that he
put into the Colombian port for
repairs. Some doubt exists As to-
the real Identity of the vessel and
officials have sent to the Ameri-
Gun consul at CaIlao the registry
number Of the Academy and have
asked for complete description
3. Two yachts, the Alameda
and the VenturA-havs been lying
at Key West. Florida. for several
weeks. Louis Van Horn, OF New
York city, who owned them origi-
naIfy is understood t. have sold
the Alameda to- . General Pas
Quern. The Ventura Was recent
fy stolen, II IL claimed, from Key
West, by Mexican pirates" and
recovered by an American coast
patrol.
d. An American sailing vessel
called the Two Sisters went
aground ON an island off the coast
OF Louisiana recently claiming to
have come from Mexico for re-
pairs. Her status iE under in
vaHfigHtion.
&. The American Strip Zealan dfa
tpff Pensacola. Florida suddenly
at night with large stock OF pro-
Visions ON board for Tamp1co,
Mextuo, and with a number of
Germans in her crew. The ar
rival Of the vessel ut Tampicc he's
been reported, where an fnvpsti-
CATION VIII be made. An Ameri-
can nag painted on the side Of the
vessel originally mad been painted
out. IT is claimed the vessel few
the German sag at sea, but this
has been denied by the owners
&. An American yacht Ethe1
disappeared from Jacksonville
Fla, within the last few weeks
and has not been found.
Officials have two theories as to I
meaning Of this series Of happenin
One IN that wealthy Nexicans in
United States are financing f1libust
inc expeditions that have some c.
nection with the raids in the Weir
OF brownsville. Texas ana the OF
is small hoats putting out from
United States are being met at
and armed with guns Of medium c
ber for rHidfnE purposes.
The latter theory originated w
q British tank steamer arriving 4
South American port reported that
her way from ruxparn. Mexico,
had been fired upon at sea bv a 81
boat. The belief EXISTS ia some q,
sefs here that . hase Of operat
has besn established on an lei
HeeT the coast Of Haiti where e
nave oesn accumulated for use
0nAn ooets that arc brought q
from the United States.