New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-19
Officials Regard Iden-
tifcatiOn of Sea Wolf
Almost Certain
2 ALLIED FLEETS
NOW CLOSING IN
Fugitive Still at Large
Two More Ships
Believed Lost

Rio de Janeiro, Jan. 18.-The black
raider Of the South Atlantic, which
has created havoc among Entente
shipping, and is now playing hide
and seek with two Allied naval
squadrons, is the famous Moewe. the
German commerce destroyer that
captured the Appam and sank nu-
merous ships in Atlantic waters a
year ago. Officials here consider this
identification as almost certain.
The American consul general at
Pernambuco, where 237 seamen we're
taken oy the prison ship" Hudson
Maru, has cabled to the American
Embassy here confirming the report
that thirteen Americans were among
those landed. The consul said that
the raider had sunk no American
ships, the Americans having been
employed as hostlers on the British
steamer George.
The British steamer Yarrowdale. with
the crews of eight ships sunk by ,he
raider, arrived January l6 at Sac
Vicenti, Cape Verde Islands. according
to reliable information received here.
It has been stated In unofficial dis
patches that the Yarrowdae had on
board 400 men Of the crews Of sunken
ships.
Sensational stories are told BY the
survivors concerning the raiders ex-
ploits and her tricks to conceal her
identity She sailed from Kisl under
The Danish flag.
Guns Concealed by HAY
Bristlng with guns and torpedo
tubes, the raider. when unmasked, pre-
sented most formidable appearance.
But az she moved into the blockade
zone Of the North Sea a heavy deck
cargo OF hay covered her guns and the
torpedo tubes lay carefully hidden
away in the hold, together with mine
laying apparatus.
False bulwarks hid the gun openings
in her sides. A supply OF auxiliary
plates enabled her TO change at will
the appearance Of her bridge. Collsp-
sible tunnels aided the disguise.
With a huge Danish flag painted
on the hull, the Germans boldly passed
through the British naval Gordon and
escaped into the open sea. Immediate
ly several coats OF black paint were
dsubed over the flag on the hull. bus
traces of the Danish colors were noted
by many of those on board the captured
merchantmen. Here and there also
were seen white markings, evidently
the remnants Of underlying coats ot
paint.
In service four torpedo tubes were
brought ito the deck, the hay discarded
the bulwarks removed, and the Danish
hay ship became a powerful auxiliary
cruiser.
Jap Ship Held as Prize
The Japanese steamer Hudson Msru
entered Pernambuco with German
crew. and is looked upon by Brazilian
naval authorities as q German vessel.
She will stay at Pernsmbuco as war
nrize. and will be under the jurisdic-
tion Of the German Minister.
Disnatches from Buenos Ayres say
thu, four fast Allied cruisers-the
GLASGOW. the Vindictive, the Drama and
,ba Edinburgh Castle-have taken the
seas in pursuit CT the raider. Another
squadron is believed 10 have come down
from North Atlpntlc waters, thus form
inc a trap swiftly closing on the Ger
mans. The British cruiser Amethyst
stoned at Bahia to-day on her way 10
ioin the chase. A japanese warship
Is reported passing through Magellan
toward the Atlantic.
Two more vessels, the French steam
or Admiral Lhtouche Treyille, 5,S13
Tons and the British steamer Araguaya,
IO537 tons, are missing, and may have
gone to swell the raiders total OF de-
struction.
Survivors Tell Of Suffering
some OF the survivors at Pernambuco
complained that the Germans rad kent
then, locked in the hold Of the Hudson
Maru. Half fed and iammed together
like sheep, the seamen suffered Sc
verely.
Not all Of the reports concerning the
number Of ships sunk and captured are
credited by the steamship companies
and maritime authorities here. Some
OF the statements circulated by the
Germans are considered fantastic" ]"
The steamers Ddns and Samara, re-
ported sunk. are believed 10 be safe
and are expected TO arrive from trs
north within a few days.
The steamer Tinto, which left San
tiago recently. is under suspicion o.
having carried supplies 20 the raider
and the Allied squadrons are keeping
a lookout for her.
IN n