The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-16
V0LTA|RE: LATEST
MYSTERY OF SEAS
BATTLES SOLUTION
Hundreds of Theories AID.
vanced as to Vessels
Probable Fate.

1IOUdUlE Z OGCs
On Nov. the steamship VOltaire
dropped down the Mersey from heI
dock at Liverpool and shortly after
ward steamed slowly past Rock Light
i miles from where she had berth
ed. When passing beyond the vision
Of the light tenders as she disappear
ed in the Irish Sea, she was apparent
ly passing from the prosaic to that OF
the mysteriously romantic, for from
that hour nothing has been heard
from her.
En- route from Liverpool for Hall
fax, then to New York and to BuenOs
Aires for $4,000 quarters of beef-that
was her schedule, she had no passen-
gers. These were to be taken on al
New York.
What happened-unless the British
Admiralty is holding the secret fo1
reasons of it's OWNS unknown tc
any one on land. Her owners de-
clare her Disappearance cannot be
accounted for. Relatives of her crew
know nothing. So far there is only
conjecture as to what really became
of her.
Since the day it became known she
was overdue many stories have been
advanced as to her fate. So far there
i has been no proof that any Of these are
true. AS the days pass, however, and
the stories persist that a German raid
er is at large in the Atlantic, fear
grows she has been sunk.
On Dec. 8, when she should have
been nearing Halifax, the British Ad-
miralty issued a warning to shipping
to beware Of German raider. Did
she fall victim to one? Was she cap
tured by a squadron of U-boats and
made into raider? II
Other stories that have been circu.
lated regarding her are that she hi,
a. mine laid by diving party from a
German submarine, and was sunk
when only a few hours from Liverpool
or when nearing Halifax.
Another is that she was comman-
deered by the British Admiralty and
sent to the Mediterranean.
Still another story is that she broke
her machinery-herr udder or propel-
Ter, possibly and is now drifting
some passing craft fearful Of sending
wireless broadcast for help because OF
the danger from submarines
At any rate. the Voltaire has become
mystery ship to shipping men
Whether her master, Capt. r. A.
knight, and the officers and crew are
alive is unknown to any one, it seems
Although vessel of only 8,618 tons
she had numerous refrigerator com
partments and spacious cabins Tor a
limited number of first cabin passen-
gers, beside accommodations fo1
about 800 third class She was not
of high speed, and those who know
her best say it would be impossible for
the Germans to capture and transform
her at sea into a commerce raider.
On Nov. 10 the voltaire arrived, al
Liverpool, and the passengers left the
ship. The Globe learned the follow
ing from an officer aboard the Vau-
ban:
1.-THE Voltaire was alongside us when
we reached Liverpool late in Novem-
Der. We Immediately transferred our
At inch gun from our stern to hers
She was going to Halifax to leave
her gun there, and then continue to
New York.
surprise we learned on reaching Hall
fax that the Voltaire had not arrived
After leaving that port we kept a keen
watch but failed to sight her.
1.-THE Voltaire carried only enough
coal to get her over, and if she be-
anne disabled I fear for those on board
for she would soon consume it all.
We know the officers and crew hope
she is adrift Other vessels have
floated for weeks, and one steamship
drifted for two months before picked
up"
Many people believe she might real
ly be the German commerce raider
now at large. Here is the official
statement issued at $3.50 p. M. Dec. 8,
in London, regarding that vessel.
1.-The Secretary Of the Admiralty
makes the following announcement: A
report has been received that a Ger
man armed and disguised vessel of the
mercantile type was sighted in the
North Atlantic on Dec. A. There is no
further information as to her proceed
ings.''
The Holland-American liner Nicuw
Amsterdam not only brought in stories
of mines being. laid at the entrance to
British harbors. but a supplemental re-
port to the one above. This was re-
ceived via wireless by the Dutchman,
and read:
Look out for German raider about
450 feet long. As feet beam, short fun
mel, two masts, well armed and equip
ped with torpedo tubes and probab-
ly high speed
The New York agent Of the line, on
reading this, remarked:
more proof that the German raider
is not the Voltaire.''
Checks which paScod tI,rouOI,