Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-01-06

were purchased by a machinist and
boiler maker and stored in the Erie
basin, where they remained several
years. neglected and uncared for.
Soon after the war broke out they
suddenly became the objects OF great
activity. 4 number OF workmen ap-
peared on the scene, the decks were
scraped and painted, the engines and
machinery overhauled and the boats
soon took on the racy, husinesslike
appearance which had distinguished
them when they were on the active
naval list.
Sale Falls Through.
No explanation Of this sudden
change could be obtained. so customs
guards were placed in charge OF the
boats day and night. with Instructions
10 forbid them leaving the pier until
the collector had given permission for
them 10 do so. The owner then ap-
peared and stated that he Was neso-
tiating the sale o! the craft and that
they were 10 be taken up TO the great
lakes. 1t was shown 10 him that all
that would be necessary to make the
vessels effective fighting machines
would be 10 mount a couple OF OF
pedo tubes on the decks, which still
contained the ringboltS and the bases
on which the torpedo tubes had for
nerly been mounted.
Also il WAS shown 10 the owner that
as there were two British cruisers on
guard outside OF New York harhor.
the possibilities in case these torpedo
boats should fall into the hands OF
irresponsible parties were too serious
10 be lightly d~isresarded. and that If
the vessels were sold they would not
be permitted TO leave the custody OF
the customs authorities until the iden-
tity OF the new owner and his pur-
pose Of acquiring craft OF this type
were fully investigated. The negotia.
tons for the sale OF the boats appar-
emily fell through. for at the present
time they are still in the hands OF
the same owner and are still under
the supervision of the neutrality bu.
eau day and night.
The great feet of German and AUS.
trian passenger and merchant YES
sells t27 OF the former and four OF
the latter now tied up at the docks
in the New York harbor has been
under the constant surveillance OF the
neutrality squad These vessels are
not informed. They are merely self
detained" and, so far as the United
States is concerned. are quite as free
TO come and go as the ships OF any
other nation. if they SO elect. All that
the customs authorities demand is
that any cargo taken aboard shall con
form strictly to our neutrality laws
and the vessels clear according to the
formalities.
Vast Amount Of Work.
a trip around the harbor in the
Neutrality. which is always
ready to respond at a moments notice
to An emergency call from Mr.. Ma
lone or any OF his subordinates. gives
idea OF the vast o OF WORK
and the tremendous responsibility in.
volved in keeping the port OF New
York neutral.
EXorbitant freight rates and the GER
OF obtaining cargoes have
drawn ships OF all descriptions from
all sections OF the globe to these wa
The oldest sailors say they have
never before seen such a large and
Ill-assorted feet Of tramp ships as
is now in the harbor. Any sort
of craft that will keep at!oat is well
coined b. shippers.
Millions and millions Of dollars
worth OF war supplies purchased BIZ
he allies are awaiting shipment. The
Of exports now going j of
New York from week to week far ex.
leeds any previous movement of the
kind from any port in the world in
history of modern times. The
shipyards Of Europe, America and
Asia have been ~ransacked; craft that
lai been assigned to the scrap heap
been resurrected and put into
commission. Some of these ships
made more money for their own.
,rs on a single voyage than their
actual worth in the market. The
are not particular what sort
# cargo they carry. Dynamite or gun.
,owicr, automobiles or mules are
ii" same to them SO long as they
AN ct the benefit of the high rates
this wartime traffic bears.
Passing under the shadows OF the
-rcat German steamships tied up at
heir docks in Hoboken after the man.
.er in which an ice company is forced
. stable its horses in the winter time.
tour Of investigation Don leads to
Of unusual activity along the
iers at Weehawken. The huge grain
levators operated by the West Shore
abroad are pouring wheat by the
undreds Of thousands OF bushels into
he steel hulks Of vessels steaming
nder the Norwegian and Danish
ags. A little further along the
steamship Kangaroo is loading
18th tons and tons Of steel billets to
Z used in making firearms and am.
lunitiOn.
Freight Piled High. ;
Across the way another big steel
Fighter. scheduled t o steam tor
~IafiyostOk. Russia, is taking on a ,
that IL Of unique character. ,
is composed in part Of steel rails, ,
Ie steel frames and trucks Of freight
.Fg and thn tic vpa m hiraI ,,.F,u ~