Omaha daily bee., 1915-10-25
FEAR GERMAN RAID
IN CARIBBEAN SEA
American Officials Mystified by
Moves Indicating Teuton Sea
Activities.
MAY BE MEXICAN FIIIBUsTER

WASHINGTON, Oct. IA tan
gled skein OF circumstances ia per-
picking officials here. pointing either
to the institution of new commerce
raiding campaign by Germany in tho
Caribbean Sea, or the beginning of
a series OF filibustering operations
against Mexico. The Ju0tice. Navy
and State departments have worked
on the mystery several weeks with
out result.
The departure OF several seaEoing mo-
tor boats. the escape OF German warrant
officers interned at Norfolk and the
mysterious movements OF several Amer
lean yachts In the Gulf of Mexico have
baffled not only officials OF the Wash
ington government who are anxious to
prevent violations OF neutrality through
use OF American territory as a base OF
naval operations, but also agents OF the
British government who fear a commerce
raidlng campaign is about TO be begun
against the tank steamers which carry
oil from Mexican ports for the use OF the
British navy.
The circumstances.
The circumstances, which officials be-
lieve are all connected in a general way,
| follow:
First-The sudden departure of six In
| termed German warrant officers from
| Norfolk In the motor boat Eclipse, pro-
| visioned for several days voyage.
| Second-The arrival at BuenR Ventura.
| Colombia, Of an American ship. Acad-
emy. from San Francisco. heavily pro-
visioned. One of the owners OF the
Academy telegraphed the government
here that the vessel had no instructions
TO 20 to Colombia. The captain OF the
Colombian port for repairs.
Some doubt exists as to the real iden-
tity OF tho vessel and officials have
| sent to the American consul ut Callao
the registry number of the Academy and
have asked for complete description.
Third-Two yachts. the Alameda and
the Ventura, have been lying at Key
West for several weeks. Louis Van Horn
Of New York City. who owned them
originally, is understood TO have sold tho
Alameda to General Pasquero. The Ven-
tura was recently stolen, It is claimed,
from Key West by Mexican pirates"
and recovered by an American coast
patrol.
Sailing Vessel Aground.
Fourth-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 repairs. It's status Is under
consideration.
Fifth-The American ship Zealandla left
Pensacola, Fla. suddenly at night with
n large stock OF provisions on board for
Tampico, Mexico, and with number of
Germans in its crew. The arrival OF the
vessel at Tamploo has been reported
where an investigation will be made. An
American flag painted on the aide of the
vessel originally had been painted out.
II Is claimed the vessel flew the German
flag at sea, but this has been denied by
tho owners.
Sixth-An American yacht. the Ethel,
disappeared from Jacksonville, Fla,
within the last few weeks and has not
been found.
Officials have two theories as TO the
meaning OF this series OF happenings. One
is that wealthy Mexicans in the United
States are financing filibustering expedi-
tions that have some connection with the
raids In the vicinity of Brownsville, Tex,
and the other is that small boats putting
out from the United States are being
met at sea and armed with guns OF
medium calioer for raiding purposes.
Origin of Latter Theory.
The latter theory originated when n
British tank steamer arriving In a South
American port reported that on It's way
! from Tuxpam. Mex. It had been fired
upon at sea by small boat. The belief
exists in some quarters here that a base
of operations has been established on an
island near Haiti, and that guns have
been accumulated for use on small boats
that are brought there from the United
States.
Great Britain and France have main
tained a patrol OF cruisers in the Carb-
bean and the seas are being secured for
suspicious craft.