2 SEPTEMBER 1911, Page 3

Two small steamers with cargoes of arms and ammunition have

been seized in England during the last few days. It is not known by the Customs officials for what use the cargoes were destined. The ships could not have been seized merely for carrying these cargoes, but there were signs that guns were about to be mounted on the decks, and this led to action being taken under the Foreign Enlistment Act. The 'Foam Queen' was seized in the Thames, and the 'Arizona ' at Barrow. They were nominally bound for Bahia Blanca or the River Plate. Rumours, probably incorrect, connected the munitions of war with Venezuela and with a Royalist plot in Portugal. The vessels first attracted attention owing to the installation of wireless telegraphy, which is unusual in such small vessels.