Evening star., 1939-10-06
Iroquois
CONTINUED From First Page.)

been rushing eastward to pick up the
liner. Location and time of expected
contact is being kept closely secret,
however, President Roosevelt deny
ing reporters this information at a
press conference at Hyde Park this
morning.
The President took occasion to
speak approvingly of the Atlantic
patrol service, pointing out that
presence of these ships off the New
England coast when the convoy as
signment was flashed to them will
save considerable time in their To-
eating of the 1roquois.
The ship, due in New York We'd
nesday, is carrying 584 passengers
and g. crew of 212. All of the pas
sengers are American citizens.
Later officials here were notified
by the captain that the search had
been made and no explosives found.
Yesterday afternoon President
Roosevelt laid the German warning
before the cabinet and the decision
to make it public was reached at
that time.
Even earlier. however, orders had
cracked out of Washington by radio
for Navy and Coast Guard patrol
ships to hurry toward the liners
position, the Iroquois itself had been
warned and instructions given for a
complete search of explosives in the
ship, and full information given the
British and French admiraities.
The Maritime Commission, which
called the Iroquois from its nor
NAL service between New York and
Florida for temporary service in re-
turning Americans from the war
zone, also radioed the ships master,
Edward A. Chelton, to double his
lookouts and watchmen.
The liner, built at Newport News
in 1927, is registered at 5000 tons,
with length of 1894 feet and beam OF
81 feet. She operates normally for
the Clyde-Mallory Line. With q
partial load of refugees, she left Liv-
erpool on Monday and Cobb on
Tuesday.
Incredulity and indignation greet
ed the announcement of threatened
tragedy after it's release last night
by the White House
Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy,
in London, maintained constant
communications with his own and
the British governments, but in the
words of a subordinate, "all we can
do now is pray"
In New York officials of the United
States Lines, cooperating in emer-
gency operation of the coastwiSe
ship in Atlantic service, expressed
disbelief, one spokesman calling the
story 'the silliest thing I have yet
heard"
Berlin was curt but consistent.
"Ask Britain" the admiralty re-
piled to queries for more details.
I'VE have done our duty by giving
the warning. 1t is now up to Brit
ain to explain"
Questions Unanswered.
Many questions were left un-
answered in the brief announcement
released late yesterday by Presiden-
tial Secretary Stephen Early. De-
spite the plain implication of the
German warning for instance, that
the destruction was to be at British
or French hands, this accusation
was not made outright, or at least
the press was not so informed.
Neither was it explained how the
German admiralty could have been
in possession of the information.
There was question also whether
Admiral Raeder's warning was de-
llvered verbally or by written COM
munication. 1t was admitted by Mr..
Early today that the United States
naval attache, A. E. Schraeder, had
given written receipt for the in
formation to the German admiralty,
at their request.
The White House cannot imag-
ine," Mr.. Early said, that any
British, French or other ship would
do such thing. We don't believe
many people in the United States
will believe the report is true or
that it could be-"
Mr.. Early made careful distinc-
ton as to the duty of the ships
racing to meet the Iroquois, namely,
that they are not to take the ship