The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-10-17
NINE MUNITION SHIPS
BRAVE U-BOAT DANGER

Cruisers are Near Heavy MunitiOn
Shipments are Going Across the At
lantic, Secured by American Lives.
New York, Oct 12.-Headed by the
! q ,OO0-ton White Star liner Adriati>
with a S7,OOO,OOO cargo and 1856 las
sengers, a fiotilla of nine British mer-
chantmen with munitions of war slip
ped out to sea tonight The vessels
had remained at anchor all afternoon
within the three-mile limit off Sandy
Hook.
AS soon as darkness shut ont the
shore line the propellers of the Adri-
attic commenced to turn and she crept
away on her voyage to Liverpool, the
richest prize on the seven seas today.
A squadron of British cruisers sum-
moned by wireless from the West In
dies, Bermuda, Bahamas and Hal
flax, by Admiral Montagu Brewing,
met her. They will act as an escort
for the big liner and the eight freight
ers that followed in her wake through
the danger zone in which Admiral
! Browning thinks the U-53 and her
companions may still be waiting.
The 'Adriatic left her pier at l2:3O
0. m. just half an hour later than her
advertised sailing time. She passed the
Battery a little after O'Clock and
steamed slowly down the bay through
the narrows to anchor at Sandy HOOK
until nightfall. When she passed the
Narrows the Cunard steamer Pamonla,
which has been waiting since Sunda!
with her cargo of explosives in Grave
send bay, left her anchorage and fol-
lowed astern of the big liner.
Later in the afternoon the British
steamers Eastgate, Dipton, Toftwood
and Strathstey, all under charter to
the French line and loaded to capacity
with war munitions, left their ancnor-
ages and joined the Adriatic and Pa
nonia of the Hook. The last two OF
the flotilla, the freighter Ardgorrock
and the Atlantic transport steamer
Ninehaha. with 1,4o0 tons Of muni-
tions on board, passed through the
rarrows at 5 o'clock.
Cruiser Escort.
The reasons for the movement OF 30
many munition carriers at one time are
said to be the availability at this time
of the cruiser squadron as an escort,
and the superstition that 80 many skip
pers have about sailing on a Friday
Tomorrow being Friday, the 18th, II
was realized that unless the vessels got
away tonight another whole day might
be wasted and Saturday might not
prove so favorable. Furthermore, the
Cedric and Bowie, two other big Brit
ism freighters, are due to reach port
tomorrow and the presence Of the al
lied cruisers would enhance their
chances for a safe arrival.
United States battleship Nevada and
several torpedo boat desroyers have
been sighted of the coast aud their
presence vas attributed 70 the known
arrival Of the British and French
Cruisers and the determination Of
IPrssident Wilson that there shall be no
violation of American neutrality.
Ltfeboass Ready
Before the Adriatic left her pier
Capt }. B. Ransom ordered all the
liesboats uncovered and supplied witr
provisions and water. The falls were
looseued and pulleys inspected. While
at anchor on the Hook the lifeOoats
we're swung outward in readiness for
immediate use. Life belts we're served
to the passengers. most OF whom seem
to have been told that the British
cruisers would guard them from SUBJ
marine attack.
OF the SO first cabin passengers
four are Americans-H. A. Emerson,
New York commission merchant; r. 6.
Brassington, who is in the safe bust
ness in this city; William ]. Wilson
and his wife, who are going to join
the London Hippodrome forces. There
were several Americans among the 1873
second cabin passengers but their
names were not available, owing to the
holiday. In the third cabin were III
md