The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-02

Norfolk, Va., Jan. PA plot to destroy this city-the centre of the war activities of the United States - was declared by the authorities to be respon- sible for a series of fires which levelled two blocks in the heart of Norfolk's business district yesterday.
 Martial law has been declared. More than i2,500 marines and bluejackets from nearby naval stations are assist ing the police and Home Guards in maintaining order and preventing van- dalism.
 Five men have been arrested on suspicion of starting the fires. Two of them, Hugo Schmidt and H. K Leasing, said to be Germans, were turned over to Department of Justice agents.
 Neither the police nor naval auth critics would confirm reports that two Germans had been shot by sailors dur ing the day.
 
 night but was still burning fiercely in the ruins.
 The damage is roughly estimated at between $3,o00,Oo0 and $5,0OO, 900. The police and naval authorities are certain the fires were set by plotters, who hoped to destroy this city and thus place an almost incredible hind rance in the path of this governments war plans.
 Fire Chief Mclaughlin expressed belief that a gang of fire bugs, work ing under directions, were at work throughout the entire day starting up fresh fires whenever the fire depart ment appeared to be making head way. He declared the gang to be the best organized he had ever run across in 25 years experience
 The fire started before dawn in the old Granby theatre, on Granby street. It gained headway rapidly. The f1remen were handicapped by frozen fire hydrants, low water pres sure and near zero temperature.
 The fire quickly spread to the Mon ticello Hotel and other nearby build ings in the block. It was brought under control late in the day. but broke out anew early last night leap ed across Granby street, and levelled half of the block before being check ed.
 Falling floors and walls took toll of f1remen and naval guards. One fireman, Charles Mccoy, was killed, and seven others hurt in the collapse of an upper floor of the Monticello Hotel in the day. Two f1remen and several sailors were caught in a fall ing wall of the Lenox building. Three were brought out badly hurt, but the others were left in the debris.
 Bremen of Norfolk. Portsmouth and Suffolk with organized sailor fire brig ades. fought heroically amid ice and blinding smoke. Bfuejackets led the rescue work when the fighters were trapped. Several of the f1remen caught in the hotel were brought out alive through the daring of a score of sailors.
 Reports as to the number of explo- sions vary. It was first said that the fire in the Granbv theatre had fol- lowed an explosion. Fire Chief Me Laughlin and naval investigators an- nounced last night that this was not the case. They said. however, that there had been three separate and distinct explosions. The first was in a cloak and hat shop near the Monti- cello. The second was on the sixth floor of that hotel after the first fire was practically under control. The third was in the Lenox building, which later was destroyed.
 Guests from the Monticello, who were forced to flee in the biting cold of the dawn after they had watched the theatre burn. were taken care of in nearby homes and hotels. As build ing after building went down, scores were made homeless. The National Guard Armory on City Hall avenue was thrown open to them.
 There during the late day Red Cross workers and other volunteers looked after them and also supplied coffee and sandwiches for the naval patrols and f1remen who were forced to seek rest from their gruelling work against the flames.
 When the firemen responded to the alarm for the theatre fire they found all hydrants in the vicinity frozen. Fires had to be built to thaw them out In the meantime the firemen looked on helpless while the big the atre building burned. When water finally came the pressure was so low that streams would not reach to the upper stories of the burning building and the fire was soon beyond control.
 Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth river, was called upon for aid The combined departments apparently were making good headway against the flames when the explosion occur red in the cloak shop and another blaze started. Suffolk then was asked for aid and rushed apparatus to the city by train. In the meantime the naval authorities at the navy yard and naval base offered aid and fire bri- gades were soon on the scene.
 When the second explosion occur red, this time in the Monticello, May or Mayo turned the city over to the Naval authorities. They placed pa- trols throughout the business district and threw a cordon of marines and blue jackets around the fire district Then they began picking up persons unable to account for themselves.
 Department of Justice agents joined with the city detective force in seek. ing to unravel the mystery of the ex plosions. Three of the men arrested were placed in the city jail. Federal agents took charge of the other two, Schmidt and Lessing. The latter, of fcers said. first Represented himself as a Department of Justice official. 
 Norfolk has been an important American shipping centre and naval