Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-12-08
d / SHIT j |SSUNK;
Yankee WOUNDED !.
. DURING BATTLE
Oil Steamer Sunk by Submarine
in Mediterranean.
ANOTHER FLEES FROM DIVER
Anne rican Steamer PetroIite Escapes
After Being ShelIed by Austrian
Craft-Washington Gives Re-
call Reason to Berlin.

Rome, Dec S.-The American OF
steamer Communipaw has been sunk
by submarine in the Mediterranean
near Tobruk, Fripoli. No information
has been received concerning the crew
or the nationality of the submarine.
Only Wreckaee Found.
London, Dec. S.-The Athens CORE
spondent of the Daily News tele
graphs that the Athens wireless sta
ton received an S. o. S. call from an
american ship that had been torpe'
decd. The government sent a torpedo
boat to the rescue, but by the time the
war vessel arrived only the wreckage
OF the ship could be found.
This is the second American steam.
er attacked by submarine in the
Mediterranean in less than a week.
Another Ship Fired On.
W ashington, Dec. 8.-Differences be.
tween the United States and the two
central empires of Europe were in
tensif1ed by the following Incidents:
Cruiser Des Moines reported an
Austrian submarine had fired on an
American ship, Petrolite, in the Medi-
terranean, wounding one man aboard.
Secretary Lansing of the state de-
partment replied to Germany's request
for Americas reasons asking the re-
call of Captains Boyd and Won Pa
pen- The reply said merely each at
tache was persona non grata because
of his naval and military activities.
=, The dispatch from the Des Moines
came from Canea, Crete, and reported
that the following wireless message
was picked up Sunday:
american steamship Petrolite, Al
exandria to New York, attacked by
submarine Sunday morning at $40,
longitude 1925 north, latitude 1868
west One man not seriously in
jured."
Y. S. Awaits More Facts.
The commander OF the cruiser said
he had obtained from the commander
of the Petrolite the additional infor-
nation that the submarine which at
tackled the American steamer flew tho
Austrian flag and looked like big
cruiser" The man who was wound
ed was struck by fragment of an
explosive shell fired from the subma-
rine. The attack took place about $50
miles west of Alexandria and off the
western end of the Island of Crete.
The navy department transmitted
the, report to the state department,
where it was said nothing could be
done until further facts were supplied.
It was inferred from the dispatch that
the Petrolite had been fired on dur
ing a successful attempt to escape.
If her captain disregarded a demand
to submit to search there probably
will be no attempt to make a diplo-
matte incident of the case.
Secretary Daniels said he had not
instructed the commander of the Des
Moines to make any further investi-
cation. It is assumed that no more
will be heard from the Petrolite un-
IL she arrives at Gibraltar.
Clash Over Boyd.
Secretary Lansing communicated to
Germany through both Count Won
3ernstorff and Ambassador Gerard
he general reasons which caused the
United States to request the imme-
late recall of Captain Boyd and
Captain Won Papen. While Mr.. Lam
ing is understood to have declared
hat the naval and military activities
# the attaches constituted their
principal offenses, it is said there was
10 discussion of facts relating to the |
easons for the state department. re-
|uest, and no disclosure of the depart
nent's sources of information regard
ng the mems acts.
Whether Germany expected a dis
ussion of the facts has not been !
made known. Officials are waiting !
o see whether the Berlin foreign Of |
ice will be satisfied with the. broad, |
eneral reasons. The opinion seemed |
o prevail that Germany, with such |
easons before her, might instruct Am !
assador Bernstorff to send the at |
aches away without further delay. |
n some quarters, however, it was
bought another communication might !
ONE from Berlin.