Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-24
OFFICIALS FEAR GERMAN
RAID ON ALLIED SHIPPING
Tangled Skein of Circumstances Per-
pleNes Justice, Navy and State
Departments.
UNABLE TO SOLVE MYSTERY
Series OF Happenings Battles British
ASents-U. 5. Government Is AnN-
ious to Prevent Violations of Ncu-
trality by Use Of Its Territory.

WASHINGTON, October ga tangled
skein of circumstances is pcrplexing Of
iicials here. pointing either To the insti-
tuition OF new commerce raiding cam
paiEn by Germans in the Caribbean Sea
or the beginning OF n series of tilibus-
tering expeditions against Mexico The
Justice. Navy and state Departments
have worked on the mystery several
weeks. without success
The departure of several sea going
boats. the escape of German
warrant officers interned at Norfolk
and the mysterious movements of sew
eral American yachts in the Gulf of
Mexico have bafied. not only officials
OF the Washington government. who
arc anxious to prevent violations of
neutrality through use OF American
territory as Il base of naval operations,
but also agents of the British govern
mcnt, who fear a commcrcc-raiding
campaign is about TO he begun against
the tank steamers which carry oil
from Mexican ports for use of the
British navy
bEIIENE ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
Connected IN GENERAL WAY
The circumstances. which officials be-
heve are all connected in a general
way. follow:
l. The sudden departure of six in
termed German warrant officers from
Norfolk
provsioned for several DAYS voyage.
. The arrival at Bucna Ventura.
Colombia, of the American ship Acad
emy. from san Francisco. heavily p"o-
Nisioned. One of the owners Of the
Academy telegraphed the government
here that the vessel had no instructions
TO go 10 Colombia. The captain 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 American consul at Callao the reg
istry number of the Academy and have
asked for complete description
). Two yachts-the Alameda and the
Nentura-have been lying at Key West.
Fla. for several weeks Louis Van
horn. OF New York city. who owned
them originally. is understood to have
sold the Alameda to Il General pasouero.
The Ventura was recently stolen. it is
claimed. from Key West. by Mexican
pirates and recovered by an Amcri-
can coast patrol.
4. An American sailing vessel called
the Two Sisters went aground on an
island off the coast of l-ouisian. re-
Gently, claiming to have come from
Mexico for repairs. Her status is
under investigation.
.. The American ship Zcalandia loft
Pensacola. Fla. suddenly at night with
a large stock of provisions on board
for Tampico. Mex. and with IA number
Of Germans in her crew. The arrival
or the vessel at Tampico has been re-
ported, where an investigation will he
made. An American nag painted on
the side of the vessel originally had
been painted out II is claimed the
vessel few the German flag at sea. but
this has been denied by the owners.
C. An American yacht Ethel disap-
peared from Jack sonvillc. Fla. within
the last few weeks and has not been
found.
OFFICIALS HAVE TWO
THEORIES AS TO CAUSE:
Officials have two theories as to the
cause of the series of happenings. One
is that the wealthy MeXicanS in the
United states are financing flibustcr-
ing expeditions that would come with
the raids in Brownsville. and the other
is that small boats putting out from
the United States are being met at sea
and armed with guns of medium calihcr
for raiding purposes.
The latter theory originated when n
British tank steamer arriving in Il
South American port reported that on
her way from TuNpan. Mex. she had
been fired upon at sea by small boat.
The belief exists in some quarters here
that base of operations has been
established OH an island near the coast
of Haiti. where guns have been accumu-
lated for use on small boats that are
brought there from the Upited States
Great Britain and France have main
tained n patrol of cruisers in the Cartb-
bean. and tho seas are being secured
for suspicious craft,