OUTPOST ISLANDS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2257, 17 September 1914, Page 6

OUTPOST ISLANDS

BERMUDA UNDER MARTIAL ' . LAW : STRICT PRECAUTIONS New York files of August 13 report that the officers of the Quebec, liner Bermudian, which arrived in that day from Bermuda, said that the islands had been placed' under martial law, and so 6trict was the censorship that even wivate letters were read before they were allowed to go into the mail for foreign countries. They also said that the Bermudians feared an attack from a German fleet, and that the garrisons of the forts commanding the main channel of St. George's had been strengthened. _ ■' '' The Bermuda Militia Artillery, a negro organisation, and the Volunteer Infantry are under arms, and will assist the Lincolnshire Regiment (regulars) and the Royal Artillery in the event of attack. Additional earthworks are being' constructed at certain points along the coast, and many of the inhabitants are einployed at this work. • One of the Bermudian's passengers, John Todd, of Elmira, N.Y., said tliat, while he and a companion were walking along a highway, they were seized ana compelled to work several hours in a trench which was being constructed for the defence of Hamilton. Ono Prize at Bermuda. Confirmation of the report that the German tank steamer Leda had been oaptured by a British cruiser was brought by the Bermudian. Officers of the eteamer said that when they left Bermuda the Leda was the only prize in port. The Bermudian also reported that two French cruisers, the Conde and the Descartes, were at Bermuda. Outside this harbour the liner sighted the British cruiser Essex and the Suffolk was heard of by wireless. Captain Frazer said that British officers camo aboard the Bermudian before she sailed, and took off six German stewards, the second and third officers, and two sailors, all Germans, and cast them into prison as prisoners of war. Other Germans on board claimed to be American citizens. They wero referred to the British Consul in New York, who will require them to produce their naturalisation paper's or prove their claim to American citizonship. During the Voyage the Bermudian had all her port-holes blanketed. On two nights evory light on the vessel was extinguished, and none of the passengers was allowed to have even a candle. Once the steamship got so close to a vessel that looked like a German oruiser that Captain Frazer said he changed his course. Passengers Exolted. There was considerable excitement among the passengers, Captain Frazer said. Some of the women seemed to expect that the ship would be blown up, and others walked the decks with lifepreservers strapped on them. The liner brought 227 passengers, a number of which were Amerioan school teachers. The Caribbean, of tho Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, also arrived at Now York on August 13 from Bermuda, bringing 300 passengers. The passengers said that, notwithstanding the Bermuda coral reefs stood out eight ot ten miles from the sliorei the natives feared that a fleet of battleships or cruisers might get in closo enough to bombard Hamilton, and they wero preparing additional defonccs ; Captain R. L. Daniels, who belongs to the Royal Naval Reserves, said that ho encountered no vessels during tho voyage, but he spoko by wireless with a British cruiser. There was some excitement among tho passengers, ho said, jvhen the lights wero extinguished.