SUPPLYING PIRATE RAIDERS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 153, 30 June 1917, Page 3

SUPPLYING PIRATE RAIDERS.

SUSPICIOUS DOINGS UNDER THE AMERICAN FLAG.

RECENT DISCLOSURES

SAN JUAN (Porto Rico), May 5. German submarines .in the Atlantic until very recently have been supplied from the United States.by ships ilying the' American flag, according to statements by members of the crew of the steamer--Manitowoc, which for several weeks was detained in the harbor of St. ■Thomas. Twenty-one of Uie crew are returning to the United States after difficulties with Captain F. Hogstead, master of the ship.

The Manitowoc, Muskegori, and Allaguash, all belonging to the same line, shortly before the Danish Islands became the Virgin Islands^ U.S.A., put into the harbor of, St. Thomas, bound from Buenos Ayres to New York, supposedly to "await orders." They were still waiting for orders when the islands were transferred to the United States. According to their manifests all three ships carried coal and other fuel, supplies., Men of the crew "'of the Manitowoe say that all the vessels were \Joaded with contraband for German; sub-' marines. .. ; "

"When we left New York last we. were supposed to have a cargo of coal exclusively," said one of the crew. 'Underneath the coal were all sorts of fuel and food supplies. Supposedly the cargo was destined for Buenos Ayres. Between St. Thomas and Buenos Ayres we got rd of our cargo on the h'gh seas to German submarines. We had no cargo when we reached , Buenos Ayres."

At Buenos Ayres that ship, the Muskegon, and ' the Allaguash all took on general food cargoes, oil, and other fuel supplies, which were covered over with hundreds of -4ons of coal, they said. On the Manitowoc thfre were also placed two iron chests filled with gold, each sup-"* posed to contain 250,000 dollars. These, according to the men, also were hidden under the coal.

While waiting in St. Thomas for orders, the Danish islands were transferred to the United States, and the ships were not permitted to saiL. The crew of the Manitowoc tried to get some of their pay while idle in the harbor, but Captain Hogstead refused to make any payment. The. men then made complaint- t(»" RearAdmiral Oliver, Governo.i* of .the islands, who* required Capt, Hogstead to guarantee that he would not supply any more enemy .ships before" being permitted to leave the harbor. Captain Hogstead said he was unable to get instructions from the owners in New York. :

One morning, according to the, crew, the the captain ordered the ship's flag£ hoisted upside down, indicating that there was mutiny aboard. When officials . from shore came on board to find out what the trouble was, the men insisted there Avas nothing wrong except for the fact they refused to work unless their pay. was guaranteed. Finally, they said, Captain Hogstead signed such a guarantee. Soon 'afterwards it was learned the Manitowoc had. been ordered to return to Buenos Ayres, and they were preparing to sail with her when, they assert, Captain Ho«stead repudiated t his, guarantee. The men then demanded thai they be returned to New York,. and they arrived here on Tuesday, en route to the States.