The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-23
AMBASSADOR PAGE
IS SENDING EVIDENCE
German Contention That HesperiAn
Was Not Torpcdoed May He
Proven False.
SUBMARINES WE'RE
NEAR
Chased Other Ships In Immediate
Vicinity Same Day. Although Berlin
Declares No Submarines Were In
Those Waters.

Washington. Sept. 22.--Ambassador
| Page. at London, has advised the State
Department that he Is sending by mail
additional evidence in the case of the
liner Hesperian, the vessel the sink
ing of which may become factor in
abe submarine controversy between
the United States and Germany.
Though the ambassador did not speci-
fy what the evidence he is sending
consists Of 1t is presumed here that
1t includes the fragment of metal
picked up on the deck of the Hesperian
by her officers following the explosion
which caused her sinking. The British
government has declared that this
fragment has been found to be part
of a torpedo. and official reports
from London state that naval attaches
of the American embassy have agreed
in this connection.
The British and German governments
are now in direct conflict on the Hes
perian case. The German government
has announced positively that no Ger
man submarine was in the waters when
the Hesperian was struck. This state
ment it is declared in Berlin, is based
on the reports from all German sub
marines on the seas at the time the
Hesperian was destroyed,
Evidence to Contrary.
The British on the other hand not
only assert that fragment OF the
torpedo fell on the deck of the yes
sci and was preserved. but that other
evidence shows that German submar-
ines were in that vicinity at the time
The master of the British steamship
Grossly. recently arrived at Newport
News, has reported that he was chased
by submarine near where the Hes
perian was when struck on the very
day that she received her death
wound.
Officials of this government are re-
serving judgment In the matter until
all the evidence Is In IL Is admitted
that 1t will be difficult for the Unit ed
States to act in the matter in view
OF the German governments very posi-
tive statement that no German SUBJ
marine was In the vicinity of the
Hesperian. Even II the fragment of
metal being forwarded here apparel
to be a piece OF torpedo. II is be-
lfeved that this government would
ind 1t difficult to act
Nothing ofaciai From berlin.
According TO officials of tire State
Department, the numerous statements
appearing in the press from Berlin ex-
pressing confidence that the contro-
versy with the United States will be
satisfactorily adjusted and announcing
that more strict orders have been given
to submarine commanders with regard
TO attacks on passenger vessels. have
not been supplemented by any official
communications of similar purport TO
the United States government Con-
seGuentiy, officials are making no COM
ment on the statements from Berlin.
but are. instead, waiting to see what
the German government has to say Of
aas, 70 l. ,erAs NJ
as soon as the Ambassador Bernstorn
has received the instructions which
according to Berlin. have been sent
him, the amba ssador will come to
Washington and that II will then APP
pear what response the German gov
eminent is prepared to make to the
demands OF the United States.