The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-20

{CDDtInUe0 FROM ElFSt f1&e.b
cap is said to have struck mine In
the Baltic and gone down with all on
board Grave fears arc also enter
tanned for the spanish ship Horacio,
which left Gilboa a week ago for West
Hartlepool One OF tine Horac!o's
boats was picked up of Goodwin $
Point. and IL Is believed the vessel
has struck German mine and sunk
Has Big Passenger List.
AS "a result Of the German cam
paign. the crews Of one British ana
three Norwegian steamers have re
fused To make the trip to England.
Possible danger from mines or sub
marines did not. however, deter the
northumberland liner United
States from leaving Copenhagen today
on schedule time carrying four hun
dred passengers for New York. II
she follows her usual course. the YES
sci will ross the German war zone.
bat that fact did not trouble those on
board according TO dispatches from
Copenhagen tonight, The United
States is the first large ,thip to .,ail
from one neutral country for another
since the decree took force.
These dispatches announce ais" that
the scandinavian naval authorities, al
a Joint meeting today, decided shat
action il necessary To clear the ad-
jacent seas of floating mines IT In
expected that the number OF armed
patrol boats engaged in mine sweep
ing will he much increased.
had Weather Stops shipping.
The sudden cessation IN ship~fng
activity yesterday al Amsterdam seems
to have been rather the result OF the
weather than OF fear of German sub
marines. To-day the traffic was quite
normal Fourteen vessels entered the
harbor six OF which We're British OF
the six which departed. all flew the
British flag.
Holland has not vet received re-
ply from Germany 10 the Dutch pro-
test against the submarine blockade.
but one is expected at any time. Con-
siderable anxiety Is displayed in om-
cial circles over the situation, Work
was continued until an early hour
this morning in the government Of
fees and all eventua'ities are being
prepared for Dispatches say that
the movement Of n large number of
Dutch troops has been reported along
the frontier facing Germany and that
the ma ritifne defenses have been put
In the best possible condition.
IL is not thought likely that the
numerous Dutch mercantile vessels
now In British waters will have any
trouble In getting to home ports or
in carrying on their usual business
All these ships are easily recognized,
and the fact that a Zeppelin encoun-
tered the Dutch steamship Helen. but
did not harm her. Is considered as in
dicatiug that Germany will make
every effort to spare neutral shipping
Airsl,ips Scouts for Submarines.
The activity of Zeppeiins over the
North Sea and in Scandinavian waters
is interesting the naval and military
authorities greatly. They do not fear
another Zeppelin attack, for they
point out that the last one was a
failure. but they believe that the air
craft are acting as scouts for the sub
marines and that some method has
been arranged for signaling the loca-
ton of British mercantile vessels.
This is the first time since the
raid on the east coast towns that
Zeppeins have taken an actual part
in war operations. dispatch from
Copenhagen says that the Zeppelin
activity In that region continues de-
spite the recent loss of two Of the
airshsps Two new Zeppelins have
taken the places OF those wrecked
and ii is probable that the entire fleet
OF Zeppelins Is on the move. Ex-
treme precautions have been taken IN
the coast cities, where anti-atrcraft
guns have been mounted at all avail
able points and the crews have been
doubled and are on duty night and
day