Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-05-27
NEBRASKAN' s
FLAG LOWERED
WHEN STRUCK
Considerable Doubt Still Exists
Whether U. S. Ship Was
Torpedoed.
CAPTAIN REPORTS
HE SAW NOTHING"
His Message Indicates lgnor-
ance of Cause of Explosion.
Washington Waiting.

WASHINGTON. May 97,-Messoges
received by the state department to-
day from Ambassador Page and Con
sul-General Skinner, at London, and
Consul Frost, at Queenstown. failed
to say definitely whether the steamer
| Nebraskan had been torpedoed or
had struck a mine.
One OF the dispatches said the Ne
braskan's American flag had been
| hauled down five minutes before she
was struck. although her name was
painted on her sides in letters six
feet high.
The American naval attaehe at
London has been sent to Liverpool
to examine the Nebraskan's hull
Consul-General Skinner's message
follows:
Green, master or American
steamer Nebraskan. in wireless ad-
dressed to me via London reports:
Captain Green's Report.
p" 'Nebraskan passed Fastnet Rock
Tuesday, 4:33 p. m, from Liverpool.
bound Cor Delaware breakwater. in
ballast At S;24 D. m. when steamer
was about forty-eight miles west
half south from ITastnet. she expe-
rienced violent shock. followed in
stantly by terrific explosion burst
ing matches and throwing hatch
beams. cargo derricl1s and twisted
Iron into air, fllllng lower hold for
ward completely with water. Crew
Immediately took to boats.
-" After standing by ship one hour.
returned on board at 10:30-started
for Liverpool About les q. M. met
two vessels sent by British admir-
atty in answer to our wireless call.
One has been in attendance ever
since.
at was dusk when the explosion
occurred. Flag had been hauled down
| five minutes before. Steamers name
painted on both sides of the ship IN
letters six feet tail Had no warning
and saw nothing
| Ambassador Page sent the follow
| ing message:
! Admiralty have reported from
Queenstown that Ihe Nebrasllan is
now on ner way to Liverpool under
her own steam and is being escorted.
] am sending naval attache to Liver
pool to examine the ship, which, it
now appears, was outward bound
from Liverpool to Delaware break
water when she was torpedoed
Definite Advice Awaited.
The message from Consul Frost
said the ship had "struck mine or
| torpedo" but gave no details.
| AS soon as the dispatches were re-
ceived at the state department they
were forwarded to the White House
and Immediately placed before Presi-
dent Wilson. As they did not make
/ it certain whether the steamer had
been hit by mine or torpedo, they
left unanswered the principal point
that the president and his advisers
want made clear. They expect fur
| ther reports from the naval attache
! Pending receipt of clearer explana-
tions, no action will be taken.
| E. II. Duff, counsel for the COM
pany owning the Nebraskan, COM
municated with the New York offices
today and later, at the State Depart
ment, stated the circumstances of
the affair. particularly the damage to
| the bow of the Nebraslxan, indicated
to him that the vessel struck a mine.
The steamship officials with whom he
talked in New York had the same
view, although they had very little
information. He said that no steps
so far had been taken with a view
to protest or make presentations.