The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-22

SCanQ E1Tm Ou E lag OSS-
 Germany Reports Big Vic
 tory.
 Washington, Feb. 22-Wal- ter R. Gherardi, American ma val attache at Berlin, has been instructed to investigate and make full report on the de- struction of the American steamer Evelyn. So far off cial advices merely have re- ported the sinking of the yes sel and of her cargo but give no details
 Unless Captain Smith or. some of the members of the crew Of the steamship actually saw the coming tower or peri scope of a submarine, officials say it would not be possible to deny that the Evelyn was sunk by a mine. It was pointed out, however, that German officials might disclose to the American naval officer in confidence the map of their mine fields in the vicinity where the Evelyn was sunk.
 Calls It Accidental
 The minister from the Neither lands called at the state department early today to inquire what reports this government had received about the Evelyn. After conferring with Counsellor Lansing he expressed the opinion that the sinking, apparently must have been accidentaIs
 Chairman Stone of the Senate for eign relations committee said he could see no complications arising from the destruction of the Evelyn. ~sAn American vessel said the Sem ator, ''ventured into an area known to be mined and, unfortunately struck one So far it Is not known what nation laid the mine It is probable that a national clainnN for damages might be made when all the facts are established but I can not see how serious complications could come from the incident.
 Sinking of the Evelyn brought yividly before official Washington the dangers to which American vessels are exposed in the waters adjacent to the beIIigerent coasts of Europe. The American note to Germany warning that country against attacks on Amer fcan vessels in the sea zones of war applied only to submarines. Since the outbreak of the war the North Sea has been mined by both Germany and Great Britain and a note of warning was given to neutral commerce. by the German reply to the American note last week in announcing that mines would be strewn in the waters. surrounding Great Britain and Ireland and in the English Channel.
 Hitherto, in the notification of areas mined, pilots have been offered for neutral vessels whether or not the Evelyn had an opportunity to obtain a pilot or whether she struck mine with a pilot aboard are questions on which officials expected to receive de- ednite information today or tomorrow from Ambassadors Page at London and Gerard at Berlin to both Of whom the state department has directed in quiries.
 The only message before the depart
 nent early today was from American Consul Fee at Berlin who reported that the Evelyn had been blown Pup'' but did not give the cause. His cable gram stated that the ship and cargo had been lost but that the crew was saved. Officials believed the crew had been landed in Germany as Borkun near the GoTI1an coast lC was con sidered unlikely that, beyond claims for damage there would be any diplo- matic action resulting from the loss of the Evelyn inasnuch as there is now no international convention in force prohibiting the laying of mines either for offensive or defensive purposes In the Russo-Japanese war, the Japa- nese strewed mines across the harbor and entrance to Port Arthur which was held by the Russians. Similarly the Japanese laid mines in Vladivos- tok waters across Peter the Great Bay for distance of 40 miles. While the laying of mines in offensive opera tions, such as the recent German note proclaimed, has not been acquiesced in as a belligerent right, it is believed in official quarters that this and other precedents would make it difficult for the United States to make further diplomatic protest.
 The prevailing opinion in official circles today was that the United States government would stand firmly on it's warnings to Great Britain and Germany, respectively, concerning the misuse of neutral flags and possible attacks on American vessels or lives by submarines. This policy was re- garded as significant of a possible crit ical turn of affairs should any viola tions of the warning ensue.