Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-19
GERMAN|C RAIDER,
SAID TOBE MOEWE, /
HASAIDS,
Captive Vessels Converted
Into Preying Rovers, Marine
Circles Are Convinced.
BRITISH WARSHIPS
SCATTER OVER SEAS
Merchant Ships Suspected of Render.
ing Aid-No American Craft
Have Been Sunk So Far.

Have Been Sunk So Far.
BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK. January 19.-Notwith.
standing the known activity of British
warships. eleven of which are hurrying
from many directions into south At.
iantic waters in search of the German
commerce destroyer which sank the
Noltaire, Georgia and other entente
vessels. increased apprehension was
felt in marine circles today owing to
undenied credence which the shipping
world in general has placed on over
night reports that the black raider. be-
lieved to be the famous Moewe is not
operating unassisted.
According to these reports this fugi.
tive raider carried several sets of arna-
ment. and has furnished guns to at
least two of her captive ships, the st.
Theodore and the Yarrowdale. which
in turn became preying rovers. The
Yarrowdale. British. is reported 10 have
arrived at the Cape Verde Islands with
the crews of eight 9f th" sHirs too
were sunk. Her early departure on Q
raiding mission would case no SUI
prise among shippers.
WaCcn merchant vessels.
Reports yet unconfirmed place the
present whereabouts OF the Moewe a
considerable distance north of the
Ireland-to-Brazil sea lanes. where her
havoc was accomplished.
Meanwhile the entente war vessels,
aside from hunting down an active
, raiding squadron, are keeping close
watch on several merchant vessels sus-
her allies with food and o: assisting
them in other ways. AS a precaution
against an illegal use of Brazilian ter
ritory as a base of operations for the
lillian navy is maneuvering on that
country
Believed to Be Moewe.
RIO JANEIRO. Brazil, January 19.-It
| is considered almost certain here that
the German sea raider which has been
creating havoc among entente shipping
in the south Atlantic is the Moewe. the
German armed raider which captured
! the Appam and sunk numerous entente
ships in Atlantic waters a year ago.
| The American consul at Pernambuco
has cabled the embassy here confirming
the landing oc several Americans from
vessels which fell victim to the raider.
He added that no American ships had
been sunk by the German craft. and
that all the American sailors landed
were men from the crews of foreign
vessels.
Sailed Under Danish Flag.
According to reports from author
itative source. the Moewe is under-
stood to have sailed from Kiel under
the Danish flag, carrying cargo OF
hay on the bridge in order to conceal
her armament. When last seen the
Moewe was painted black. with white
markings. Her armament included
four torpedo tubes in service and sew
eral tubes IN reserve. She is believed
to have carried a mine-laying appa-
ratus.
The raider also carried a large num-
Der of auxiliary plates, which would
permit her commander to change the
appearance of the bridge at Will In
addition she had collapsible tunnels.
The vessel, now believed to be the
Moewe was repainted several times,
and under the last coat Of paint were
observed traces of the Danish flag
which had been painted on the hull.
Stays as War Prize.
The steamer Hudson Maru. which ar
rived at Pernambuco with survivors
aboard will remain there as a war
prize under the Jurisdiction OF the Ger
man minister. The Brazilian naval an-
thorities consider the Hudson Maru .
German vessel.
1t is expected that the steamers Dr1na
and Samara, which were reported to
have fallen victims to the German
raider, will reach port at the END OF tn0
week, coming from the north The
Germans are circulating fantastic re-
ports. to which the steamship com.
panies and maritime authorities give
no credit.
left here for maneuVers IN the neien.
horhood of the Rio Janeiro roadste0s
II is reported in well informed circles
that some of the warships will be de-
tached to make survey OF the Bra
lillian coast as precauIon As1s
for the operations OF the German
raider.
Americans in Crews.
1t is officially stated at the Americas
consulate that the following Americans
were among the crews OF the ships
sunk by the raider who have been
landed at Pernambuco: Benjamin
Stevens. Frank Magee. David Johnson
Fred Smith. Harry Picot, Guy Van.
doren, Royal Gregory and an unnamed
negro. These men were members OF tno
crew of the St. Theodore. which was
captured on December IL. but not sunk.
In addition to these another American.
Charlie Jones. member of the crew or
the steamer Minieh. captured on De-
cember 10, has arrived here As far as
is known no Americans lost their lives
throughout the operations OF the raider.
but nothing has been learned in regard
to ships captured before January IL.
warships Along Coast.
NORFOLK. Va. January 1s.-Wire-
less reports picked up here show that at
least eleven. il not more. allied cruisers
are now searching for the German
raider playing havoc with entente mer-
chant ships in the south Atlantic. They
are strewn along the Atlantic coast
from 300 miles south Of the Virginia
capes to within few hours steaming
of the place where the German rover
was sighted.