The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-11-12
AN AMERICAN SHIP
SEARCHED IN PORT
British Landing Party Search
Zealandia at PrOgresO,
Mexico.
MAY SEIZE THE VESSEL.
Iealandia Has Been Behaving Rather
Pe>-lliarly of Late and May
Have TransgresScd Laws.

Have Transgresscd Laws.
Washington, Nov. 1O.-Great Brit
ain was formally asked today by the
United States for information con-
corning the recent search of the
American ship Zealandia in the Mexi-
can port of Progreso by a landing
party from British cruiser. Ambas-
sador Page was instruced to make
the inquiry through the Lon Ion for
eign office.
a report from American Consul
John w. Garmon at Progreso stated
that the Zealandia was forcibly
searched last week by men from a
British cruiser now lying outside the
harbor, presumably waiting to seize
the vessel. 2
In the absence of complete data
state department officials were not
inclined to comment on the case but
it was indicated that it might de-
velop new points in the neutrality
situation prompting Mexico as well as
the United States to enter protest to
Great Britain.
The Zealandia figured much of late
in reports of the Investigations OF
British agents who were on the trail
of ships supposed to be fitting out in
he United States for attacking oil
carrying ships from Mexican fields
where the British navy draws a great
proportion of its supply of fuel oil.
The Zealandia has no change OF
registry involved as has been the case
Of many other American ships since
the beginning of the war, but orig
inally was a HI allan ship which
came under the American flag at the
time of the annexation.
On October Z the Zealandia mys
teriously left Pensacola, Fla, al
night, clearing for Tampico. Mexico
carrying a large stock of provision,
and manned principally by crew o.
Germans. An American flag painted
on her hull had been painted over and
was reported that while at sea she
flew the German cOlors. although thai
was hatly denied by her owners.
The ship moved from Tampico tc
| Campeche where British agents re.
ported she bore large quantity oi
rosin for which there was no osten.
sible use in Mexico although it is used
largely for making shrapnel They
also reported their suspicious thai
she bore large quantity of copper
and the British view was that the
ship was waiting for an opportunity
to slip out with the cargo for some
port where ii would find its way tc
Great Britain's enemies.
Nothing further Of her movement.
was reported until today. The for
chile searching of an American shiy
in neutral port probably wouli
constitute one of the most seriou
issues to arise between the United
States and Great Britain In the con
troversy now in the channels of dip
lomacy over the British navy's con
|
While awaiting further details off
cials were silent. thorough investi
cation will be made.
In the event that il should de
velop that the Mexican port authori
ties had no means of resisting tn.
entry of the British seamen, the goot
offices OF the United States to preven
recurrence of such incidents Nigh
he enlisted by Mexico.
| 1t was suggested here today that i
the Iealandia was armed for raidin,
purposes, her sojourn beyond the "a
hour limit in a neutral port, especial
ly where the authorities were power
less to intern her. might be advance,
as justification for entering the ter
ritorial waters to seize the vesse,
Mere suspicion that merchant shiI
Is armed, however, is not regarded b,
officials here as sufficient ground fo
such action.