Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-06
News of Disaster Astounds
U. S. Officials, Who, How
e.. ever, Remain Silent.
GUN ON SHIPS DECK
MAY C0MPLICATE AFFAIRS
German Version Of Incident Will Be
Looked for With Anxiety by
Administration.

There was suspension OF
Judgment in Washington today
in the case of the torpedoing OF
the Allan line steamship Hes
perian of Montreal by German
submarine off Fastnet, on the
British coast, Saturday night
Officials were not at their desks
in the State Department, because
of the fact that this is Labor day
and a public holiday, although it
was remarked that even if they
had been but little information
would be obtainable pending the
receipt Of complete official details,
1t was said at the department that
no dispatches arrived from abroad
on the Hesperian, in addition to
the message from the United
States consul at Queenstown re-
ceived last night, in which he con-
firmed the torpedoing of the ship
and announced that the vessel
carried a AZ gun mounted and
visible on her stern, as well as
Canadian troops.
Unofiicial discussion of the case OF
the Hesperian, however, turned upon
what effect the sinking of the vessel
will have upon the relations OF the
the recent written promise of the Ger
man government to the United States
that German submarines would not
again sink passenger liners without
the ship came to Washington officials
with a shock, in view of the fact that
she Is a passenger ship, and President
Wilson, who was advised OF the trag-
edy early yesterday in news dispatch-
es from the Associated Press, patiently
awaited further information today.
Question Of Armed Ship.
1t was recognized in Washington that
the question of whether the Hesperian
was an armed ship, raised by the state
ment of the United States consul at
Queenstown that she carried a gun on
in any discussions as to the sinking
OF the vessel 1t was recalled today
that the British government and the
United States government were recent
ly said to have reached earlier in the
war an informal agreement that ships
carrying less than six-inch guns for
defensive purposes would be recognized
as merchantmen. and 1t was thought
that this alleged agreement might play
some part in discussions of the event
although no such agreement between
Germany and the United States was
ever said to have been made, and 1t is
recognized that an agreement binding
between the United States and Eng
land would play no part in discussion
between Germany and the United
States.
This alleged agreement between
Great Britain and the United states
has never been officially acknowledged
Mr. Lansing was uncommunicative
upon the subject a few days ago. when
the reported agreement was brought to
his attention. in connection with a
ship held up at Newport News. armed
with a small gun on her after deck
for defense purposes. and IL was said
at the State Department today that
no disposition of that vessels case has
ever been made.
q. s. officials Astounded.
High officials regard 1t as inconceiv-
able that after the assurance given
by the German government last week a
German submarine commander should
without warning launch torpedo al
a peaceful passenger vessel.
The fact that no American lives were
lost does not alter the situation. 1t is
held, since there are said to have beer
| two American passengers on the ship
whose lives were placed in jeopardy.
| There were no reports at the State
Department today to show whether the
Hesperian was warned or whether she
attempted to escape. but other advices
indicate that while the British admi-
I rally believed there was no warning, il
would not SO announce that as fact
! There was much interest in Washing.
I ton today In the apparent conflict be.
| tween the statements of the United
States consul at Queenstown and those
| of the Allan line at Montreal The for
mer declared that the Hesperion car
| ried a gun when she left Liverpool OF
the voyage which ended disastrously
| and the Allan line announces that tn,
vessel had no gun when she left Mon
| treal on her last trip to Europe. 1t il
| recognized that gun may have beer
installed while she was in Liverpool
just before starting home.
Law Permits Small Gun,
International law permits merchant
men to have guns for defensive pur
poses when they are of small caliber
Some interest attaches particularly t,
the reported agreement between tn,
United States and Great Britain, TO
the reason that II there is such a,
agreement It might have establishet
what the United States governmen
recognizes as being permissible TO
merchantmen to carry in the calibe
OF guns. a point that might be brouKh
up by Germany in any discussions o
tho Hesperion case.
Count Won Bernstorf, the Germa,
ambassador. is out Of town and ther,
was no one to speak for the Germ al
embassy on the subject here today. 1
was pointed out. however, that an,
question which might be raised as t
whether the Hesperian was or wa
not passenger liner. in connection
with Count Won Bernstorff's recent a.
surances to the United States, couls
(coatinued on Eleventh Pagel