Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-24
WORKING OF BRITISH
i NORTH SEA BLOCKADE
How Fiat Lady" Lost Fifty Pounds
After n "Pcrsonal'
Search.
LADY sMUGGLER IN RUBBER
Wonderfully Clever Schemes Arc
Being Disclosed on Import Goods
by the Men Who Arc Guarding
All Shipping.
BY JOHN :. MARGENISoN.
International News Burcau.l

Though Germany has never yet been
officially declared to be blockaded, yet
since the very commencement OF the
war the British navy has maintained
what might be termed a fine sieve
through which all ships that cross the
North Sea and certain parts OF the
ocean must pass
This fine sieve" consists OF all sorts
OF craft. from motor boats 20 large un-
armoTed cruisers. though most OF its
units are armed liners. and is called
by the service anoat The search
1t is understanding the facts 10 say
that these ships carry searchcrs--
as shoppers for the blockade runners
the kcencst-cyed. kccncst- wited men In
the world.
You see. Germany. needing very bad
~ those things which arc considered
con;rahand and forbidden passage
across the North Sea is prepared to
make Il very much worth the while Of
any ship which can cludc the scarchcrs
and get the goods home. Therefore
there is always some ship or other try
ing to get through the Gordon with
central band.
For instance. there was the vessel
which our ship-an armed liner work
ing exclusively on The Scarch"-ovcr-
hauled. She seemed innocent enough q
as matter OF fact, half her holds were
absolutely empty, and she only had
onions in boxes slowed III the others.
Her papers were quite in order, and
after a quick overhaul the searching
party turned 10 leave for their own
ship. But the boarding party happened
TO possess petty officer with taste
for onions. and he tried to persuade one
of the suspects crew to give him a
couple OF the succulcnt' globes. The
emphatic way in which the man re-
fused aroused his suspicious. He
grabbed one of the onions under dis
cussion. and in dersion raised II TO his
mouth. intending to bite lump out
OF ii.
But instead of crunching through
crisp, white flesh, his teeth met kind
Of reluctant resistance, and ii was only
upon close examination that the onions
were discovered TO be wholly made of
rubber.
They were works OF art. Even the
veins in the brown outside covering
leaves were faithfully reproduced. to-
Eethcr with the iibcrs OF the roots
rubber and therefore Contrahand.
The ship--and her onions-wcnt to Il
certain base in the north of Scotland.
where the navy has experts TO deal
with such cases. Later on she made
her appearance in the prize court sale
Nsts-nevcr again to run any blockade.
We had great fun one day when we
ovcrhaulcd monster Dutch liner
-, no, al La n a
END America. She and we were old
z Siends. but tina, didn't prevent US
stopping her and sending over q
searching party in a boat whcncvci
we came across each other.
We made the usual inspection o.
her papers: then her cargo holds Were
gone through and found clean, anC
everything seemed quite all right. our
lieutenant, had an inspiration which
sent the liners crew hurrying to get
all the passengers baggage OF dccN
for inspection and 1t was in searching
through this tina, the inquisitive Brit.
ishers made their FIRST discovery.
Sixteen trunks made OF rawhidc were
found 10 contain. under a layer OF
feminine frppercs and lingerie, first
rte sole leather cut TO the shape OF
blocks.
LADY WITH RUNNER
AQuNn ROUND BOD,
The lady who..almiit,cd OWNERSHIP
Of the trunks was a., adipose woman
weighing about eighteen stone. SHE
declared that She knew nothing abou
the leather OF rubber.
We'll well run over your cabiI
and see II anything turns up" sal,
the lieutenant. II turned UP all righ
six cases Of glass jars marked
wanted on the voyage" wcr,
discovered, and it wasn't honey at all
but pur" dental rubber. The lady be
came hystcrical, and had TO be soothe,
by tho chic: stcwardcss.
Don't get annoyed" calmly couu
scled the officer. we haven't nnishc,
Yet"
What" screamed the lady. "Yo,
have discovered everything. VIVA, NOR,