The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-10
SHORE SIGNAL RUMOR
German Agents Believed to
Hayc Wrought Canada's
Worst Disaster.
INQUIRY TO BEGIN TO-DAY
Nova Scotia Capital Tries to
Identify 1000 Dead-Visi-
tors Warned Away.

Special Dtspatch TO TIE Sun.
HAriFAX, Dec 9.-Halifax. rocked and
shaken by the earthquake Of An ex-
rloaon, scourged by a blizzard Al then
drcnched in her sorrow by torrential
rain. tried tonight to identify many OF
ior 1000 dead and looked sQuarely IN
III, facethe sinister report that her mis-
cry resulted from an enemy plot. AZ the
first step toward the investigation Of
this charge. Chief Of Police Hanrahan
tonight ordered the arrest OF Capt.
I.amedoc and Pilot Mackay Of the NUM-
ton ship Mont Blanc and took into GUS
tody ali Of, the surviving officers and
eeamen of the relief ship 1mo
1t was officially announced that the
arrests were made only for the purpose
OF holding the men for the Admiralty
Court investigation that begins to-mor-
row
But in addition to this official state
nent there came tonight the assertion
that just before the Mont Blanc. with
her big cargo of explosives, left the
dock. a signal was sent from the wharf
that betrayed the intentions Of her COM
mander. From this signal. said the SIN
lister story Of the night. started the pro-
gramr1e Of German action that brought
the INT. earthquake with Its trail OF
death and disaster.
secret. Service Inquiry Starts:
The Canadian Pacific Railroad, which
maintains q secret service that has more
than local fame In Canada. Is sending =
member OF It's investieatlon department
10 Halifax to take charge OF the run
ming down dT these new and disturbing
statements
While the oficial action pointed to the
determination to run down fully the re-
ports OF German plot as the agency
through which the disaster occurred. an
,,iicial statement following the holding
az the seamen on the two ships said that
the inquiry so far made by Government
experts showed that the collision be-
tween the Mont Blanc and the limo was
accidental. Unofficial reports said that
the Mont Blanc was taking the wrong
side Of the channel.
But in the face OF the official state
ment there came the arrest Of seven resi-
dents of the city who are of German
descent and their holding as prisoners
Of war. These arrests were made under
the orders Of the Chief of Police, and
there il great anxiety in the city over
the question OF German responsibility
for the explosion,
Capt. Lamedoc. commanding the
French muniton ship. whose arrest was
ordered by the police. declined to make
sny detailed statement. excepting to the
admiralty Court. He did say that the
explosion was due solely to the impact
of the limo. and apparently narrowed the
issue down to the movements OF the two
ships
4 detail from a British cruiser ar
rested the survivors of the limo upon the
police suggestion and took them on
board the cruiser for safe keeping. The
authorities declined to give the names
or the number of the prisoners.
While these stern measures prepare
tory to the investigation that the Gov
eminent is to make tomorrow were un.
der way Halifax staggered under h6i
burden Of woe and made painful EFFORTS
10 Identify the dead in the hastily i'm
provised morgues. In one morgue OUT
OF 252 bodies only nifty have been identi'
fed Entire families have been wiped
ort. leaving no one even to give the
members names. to say nothing Of pro-
Nldlng burial arrangements
Visitors Warned to stay Away.
And on top of the plague Of explo
tloH, Of fire and appalling weather con
dt!ons Halifax tonight suffered from
her friends. The incoming traini
brought to the city hundreds OF wei
meaning folk for whom the ahiicted cit,
could not care. Many came TO seel
missing relatives: others were mer'
sghtseers.
A special relief train from New Yorl
with hospital supplies and clothing ar
rived tonight. Another special from
Providence, II. l.. with nurses and doc
'"rS. reached here at midnight.
Mayor r. r. Martin appealed to al
'on-'csidents and all who were not ac
'udllN engaged in rescue work 10 leav
The city. He urged that two weeks b.
allowed 10 pass before any Of the visitor
returned. Shelter is not SUFFICIENT 10
the homeless and the food supply can
'ot be shared with those who do no
make up part Of the population.
Every train that reaches the city add
IN the burden OF the officials. Hundred
~ persons who had friends and relative
IT, Halifax have reached the city, AM
many more hundreds are en- route. !
was with the purpose of checking thi
INVASION that the Mayor issued his twi
lFpclamdtions to-day.
torrent resembling In intensity tn
"1"lppurings Of the tropics In the rain
ea son. hut as cold as Ice water, swep
IN Guy during the day and stopped tn
I'!Nid rescue work that was under wa!
bL, in spite OF this handicap drippin
oilers brought ninety-five more bOdie
'' me norgues, and toward evening IN
am abated and the lantern lighte
Workers resumed In full swing 'thei
Hfeary tasks Tents that held 500 @
he homeless withstood the storm an
protected the occupants from the els
.lents
Two CITIES Hope 10 Rebuild.
Halifax and Dartmouth made a joir
'pp"al for aid TO rebuild the destroye
1'"as and to care for the suffering
They estimated that II would take b<
''een so0,OOO.OO0 and $25,O00.000
u'e' 'hc.reluirements. As a starter til
'inadLn Government gave $l,000.00
-" immediate relief.
Organization is beginning to replat