Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-02
LINERS sEARCHL|GHTs
PLAY ON AMERICAN FLAGS
Steamer New York Takes Unusual
Precautions to Make Nationality
known While in War Zone.
LIFEBOATs READY FOR USE
Big Ship Remains Ablaze With Light
and With All remnants Flying I'm
| til Safe Waters Are Reached-Ar-
rives With 22I Passengers.

y NEW YORK. March 1.-The American
liner New York arrived here to-day
from Liverpool, after having taken un-
usuai precautions to make known her
nationality while passing through the
war zone declared by Germany around
Great Britain. In addition cxtraordi-
nary precautions against mines were
observed to the great extent of having
the lifcboats swung outward ready for
immediate use. If necessary
| Flying the American flag, the New
York left her dock in Liverpool shortly
after midnight on February 20 Her
! lights were all lit as she steamed out
to sea. and some of the passengers said
searchlights played on American flags
which flew from almost every mast
! The ship remained ablaze with light
and with all flags up until safe waters
! were reached.
Women passengers said 1t was suE-
sestcd TO them that perhaps It would
he better If they did not go to bed
until the vessel was clear OF the war
zone. Some stayed up all night
no TORPEDO-BOhTS
! SEEN by THOSE ON BOARD
Although 1t was reported that the
/ New Works. course was guarded by
| british torpedo boats to the limit OF
the war zone, no such craft were secn
/ by those aboard.
The New York had 221 passengers
! Thirty-one OF them. mostly women
buyers for American business firms.
came from Paris to Liverpool to catch
! the boat. They were DELAYED before
reaching Liverpool, but the New York
was held at her dock until they ar
rived. az the request of tho American
ambassador In London. They said tho
! boat on which they crossed from Hayre
ITO southampton steamed at full speed
| through the channel. travelling in :,
zigzag course, with all lights out, and
with lifeboats swung out, ready for
! emergency.
Charles r Rogers, OF this city. a
! passenger. sailed from this port for
Liverpool on the steamship Transyl-
Vania. which left New York on Janu-
AIRY "a. lie said tho American pas
sengcrs on the Pennsylvania were held
up i've days at Queenstown. The
pennsylvania carried n heavy cargo of
guns. ammunition and aeroplanes
We took on thirty-fvc passengers
Mt Halifax" Mr.. Rogers said Before
we reached British waters It was re-
ported that German submarines were
watching for us. The captain changed
the vessels course, going into Queens
town We reached there January 81.
TRANSYLvANIA STILL.
IS AT QUEENSTOWN
FOR three days all passengers we're
held aboard the ship. Then tho British
passengers were landed. The Ameri-
cans were held two days longer. With
the permission OF the Transyl; ania's
captain, | sent n telegram to Ambas-
sador Page at London, protesting
against our detention. Apparently. this
telegram was needed, for we were
landed and transported to London.
understand the Transylvania still is at
Queenstown"
The last trip taken by n channel boat
from Dicppr to Dover was described by
'iIs. Cccilc Deitcrlc. passenger.
II was an exciting trip" Mrs
Delterie said. when the order came
to stop traffic. the boat was all ready
to go. We loft nj night. All lights
werc cXtinguishcd, and we were told
TO be ready to take the lIfeboats at
any moment. The boat went Mt full
speed and followed winding course"