Salt Lake Tribune | 1916-02-28 | Page 1 | German Raiders on the Atlantic Ocean

GERMAN RAIDERS ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN Three Merchant Vessels Transformed After Leaving Leav-ing Ports. By International News Service. PROVIDENCE, R L, Feb. 28. The Providence Journal this morning prints the following: The government is in possession of evidence which shows that at least three merchant vessels, which have left South American ports In the last three months under neutral flags, have been transformed Into German sea raiders upon the Atlantic. This knowledge has been coupled also with the strong belief that efforts ef-forts axe being made continuously to move vessels from American ports under false manifests to be used for this same purpose. In this connection connec-tion orders have been issued to government gov-ernment officers at all United States ports within the last few days to maintain the closest possible scrutiny of every vessel sailing from American ports under a neutral flag. There is reason to believe that at least one ship of this type has already al-ready got away successfully from New Orleans. It is known that four weeks ago one merchant ship left an Argentina port ostensibly under the Swedish flag, and that one other vessel left Rio Janeiro over three weeks ago flying the Swedish flag. Both of these ships are In reality German commerce raiders. One vessel, which is supposed to have left Rio Janeiro seven weeks ago, was a self -interned German freight carrier, which sailed away practically In ballast, alleging as its destination an American port. Tills vessel has not been heard of. It Is believed that the British authorities au-thorities are keenly alert to this situation sit-uation and that they have recently largely increased their cruiser strength in both the north and south Atlantic upon the lookout for these escaped vessels. Within the next few weeks the heaviest munition shipments that have yet been sent out of this country coun-try are scheduled to leave for Europe. Eu-rope. The Journal is informed on very high authority that at least four of these commerce raiders are now upon the Atlantic and that their intention in-tention is to sink ships of the allies without warning and without any attempt at-tempt to save the passengers or crews. It is said to be the purpose of the naval officers commanding these commerce raiders to overhaul and sink all merchantmen and then to sail on, leaving the fate of such vessels to be guessed only when they have become long overdue in English, l French or Italian ports.