The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-20
AUXILIARY To
GERMAN RAIDER
CAPTURED PRIZE SHIP
HAS BEEN CONVERTED
Report Not Confirmed But is
Generally Credited--Allied
Shipping Warning.

WASHINGTON. &C., Jan. 19-Dis.
ipatches to the State Department late
Today from Rio de Janeiro, said It was
stated there that the Steamer st.
Theodore, captured by the German
raider in the South Atlantic. armed
with two guns and manned by Ger.
man crew was cruising as an auxiliary
10 the raider.
The department announced the ad-
vice in this statement.
THE department was advised by
telegram from Rio de Janeiro that II
lis stated there that the captured
Steamer st. Theodore has been armed
with two guns and a German crew
put on board and that the vessel is
now operating as an auxiliary cruiser
| in the Atlantic
Earlier in the day cablegram from
Consul Stewart at Pernambuco an
nounced the landing there Of the st.
Theodores crew, including nine Amer,
leans, by the Japanese steamer Hud.
son Maru, another Of the. raiders
prizes. The consul said the other
ships captured were believed to have
had no Americans aboard.
The report Of the arming OF the st.
Theodore, British vessel, was given
out with the explanation that the de-
partment had no means of determln-
ing its accuracy.
Officials were inclined to credit the
story, though, and to look for word
that other captured ships would be
similarly used.
Despite the intense interest with
which the raiders work is being fol-
lowed here official dispatches do not
As yet indicate that American rights
i have ben violated in any way or that
the cruiser has exceeded her prlTl-
lleges under International law.
Moot Questions involved.
Moot questions Of international laws
are involved, however, in the conver.
sion of merchantmen into COM
merce destroyer on the high seas.
/ The United States as we'll as Great
! Britain has refused to recognize the
LEGALITY Of such conversion. If Amer
| lean ships are sunk by such converted
vessels or American cargo on other
ships is lost it is expected that this
country would press claims against
Germany for damages.
Germany, however, together with
the other continental nations. has
maintained the legality Of conversion
at sea. An attempt was made at the
second Hague conference 10 reach an
I GSTeGluSuL Ou Tue SuUJSClp uuL Tue
small navy nations refused to accept
| the Anglo-American contention.
The attitude of the South American
nations is being watched with particu-
lar interest here as it Is recognized
that the raiders exploits has stirred
public opinion there to as great de-
gree as the exploits Of the U-53 stirred
public opinion here. A practical block
ade OF many ports, a jump IN 1nsur-
ance rates, and crippling OF a highly
prosperous foreign trade are the re.
suits facing the South Americans.
Shipping Warned
NEW YORK, Jan. 10-Warning TO
shipping Of the Entente Allies that
the captured British merchantmen st.
| Theodore had been armed by the Ger
mans and was scouting in the steam
ship lane was flashed tonight by wire
! less by a British cruiser off Sandy
! Hook.
To Search For Raider
BUENOS AIRES, Ian. 19-Accord'
ing to newspapers here. two British
cruisers have left the Falkland Is.
lands in search Of the German raider
and to protect the shipping lane.
The raider is believed here to be re-
ceiying wireless information from a
Brazilian island.
MENICO CITY. Jan. 19.-Insistent
rumors come from Vera Cruz that the
| German commerce raider now is in the
Gulf Of Mexico. II Is expected in Vera
Cruz, the report adds. That the raider
will make an effort to cut off the oil
ships cnroute from the Tampico fields
| for England.
There Is no confirmation Of the rumor