The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-08
MAY ARM AMERICAN
SHIPS IN DANGER ZONE
.Continued from page =

SHIPS IN DANGER ZONE
,con1nued from page II
definitely postponed. The mail situ
alton will remain without rellel uh-
less 1t is decided to transfer mans
to the White Star liner Cedric. scneu-
uled to sail for Liverpool Saturaa'
or Sunday.
Hiding on Dock.
NEW York, Feb. 8.-A German
fireman, Joe Lellar, who formeriy
was employed on the German iihs :.
Philadelphia, now lying IN doch IN
Hoboken, was found hiding penlno
pile of tobacco boxes on the Annericau
line pier early today.
He had eluded twenty guards anu
was found only after an noul
search when guard reached his De-
lief that he had seen some one on
the pier.
Lellar claimed to be a Russian ana
said he had come through the guaru
with the crew. AS every person Gu
tering the pier must present a pass
to he yised by two guards and he had
no mass. a detective who speaks Ger
man was called and it was FOUND
Lellar spoke more German than Rus
sian. He finally admitted he was
formerly OF the crew Of the Phila-
delphia and had recently been WORK
ing on the freighter Manitoba1, load
ing in Brooklyn.
while the man was held, the
American line started thorough ex-
animation of the crews and OF the
engse rooms of the st. Louis, 81.
Paul and Lapland, now lying at tns
company's West 22nd street pier.
Fleet Of Ships.
NORFOLK, Va, Feb. 8.-Loadea
to the gunwales with war munitions,
cotton and general supplies FOR the
entente allies, a fleet of twenty-five
British, French and Italian ships,
sail and steam, left Virginia ports
today. Twenty-Five miles off Shore
allied warships picked the cargo
boats up and will convoy them.
The munitions laden ships have
been concentrating at the mouth OF
Chesapeake bay since Sunday. Others
from that and points along the coast
are sailing to join the fleet. 1t was
said in shipping circles here today the
allies have adopted a plan of convoy
ing cargo boats in squadrons OF ten
or more hereafter.
Several Danish, Dutch and Swedish
ships are keeping close trail behind
the guarding vessels.
Arrived in Port.
NEW YORK, Feb. S.-The Espagne
of the French line locked at $40 q.
m. today from Bordeaux. The Espagne
carried 167 passengers. including sew
eral Americans She left Bordeaux
January % and was out of the SUD
marine zone before the new program
vas put into effect.
Elliott Cowden, an American avia-
tor with the French forces. return
ing for a visit at his home in Tuxedo,
N. Y, was among her passengers.
Gunners Wanted.
NEW YORK, Feb. S.-While main
tanning that they have reached no
decision regarding arming their lin
ers for defense, officials of the Amer
lean line announced today that they
are anxious to get into touch with
ex-gunners of the United States
navy.
Tuscania Arrives.
NEW YORK, Feb. 8.-The Tus-
cania, queen of the Anchor line ships,
arrived today with fifty-six passen-
gers form Glasgow. She was three
days late, due to bad weather and
the roundabout course taken on the
way over.
Robert w. Bedford, Montreal agent
for the Anchor line, was among the
passengers. They had not heard of
the sinking of the California until
they reached port.
First to Defy.
NEW YORK, Feb. S.-The Interna-
tional Mercantile Marine is likely to
be the first American line to defy the
German submarine proclamation by
sailing its ships armed for defense
and refusing to paint them with red
and white stripes as ordered by the
German admiralty.
Officials of the line announced to-
day that they are trying to get into
touch with former naval gunners.
They were advised by Secretary Lans-
ing that they may arm their. vessels
for defensive purposes If they desire.
"I don't think Wen paint our vessels
I'D to look like barber poles. We
haven't decided to do so as yet" said
an official Of the line this afternoon.
The st. Louis, of the American line,
a branch Of the Mercantile Marine,
which has been held in port several
days, probably will furnish the first
test. 1t is expected the Philadelphia,
now In Liverpool, and the ST. Paul,
scheduled to sail from New York Sat
urday or Sunday, also will be pro-
tected by men trained by the United
States navy. The company officials
refuse to admit that final decision for
defensive armament has been reached.
but admits openly they are locating
the necessary expert gunners.