The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-05-28
HARD TO REALIZE
NEBRASKAN JOLT
Washington Awaits Statement
Of Ships Officers.
WAS U. S. VESSEL TORPEOOED?

Vessel Was Submarine Victim
Flew v. S. Flag, Was on Return
Voyage, Carried No Contraband-
Americans Can't Understand.
Washington, May 27.-The an
nouncement of the British admiralty
that the American steamship Nebras-
kan was torpedoed off the Irish coast
caused a stir here second only to the
shock felt when the news Of the Luz
sitania sinking was received.
In view of the circumstances OF the
case officials find it very difficult to
believe that the Nebraskan was tor
pedoed and are anxiously awaiting
what statement her captain and Off.
GERS have to make about the case.
The press reports that the captain OF
tho Nebraskan sent message saying
he had struck a torpedo or a mine"
we're noted here, and consequently Of
ficials are trying to suspend judg'
nient until complete reports are re-
ceived. 1t is expected more detailed
Information Would be available Lv-
day.
Report Ship Torpedoed.
Both Ambassador Page and Consul
General Skinner at London reported
to the state department that the Ne
braskan had been torpedoed. Their
dispatches, however, were based on
Information received by the British
admiralty from it's wireless station at
Lands End, England. Until more con.
elusive evidence direct from the ship
herself is available to support the ad-
nlalty's statement, opinion here will
undoubtedly incline to the belief that
the Nebraskan struck a mine and was
not torpedoed.
Should it develop that there Is suf
fiCient evidence to establish the adj
miralty report that the Nebraskan
was torpedoed, the incident will be
extremely serious, aggravating almost
beyond measure the already delicate
situation existing between the Ger
man and United States governments
on the question Of the German sub
marine operations.
Think Mine Caused Disaster.
That is why the opinion here in
clines to the belief that the Nebras.
kan struck a mine. 1t is regarded as
that the Germans would
attack an American vessel outbound
from England and not carrying con-
tIaband, just at the moment when the
Berlin government is preparing a re-
ply to the American note regarding
previous attacks on American life and
the American flag. 1t has been the
here that the German
policy was to take every possible pre-
caution not to cause further compli.
cation at present by a submarine at
tack on an American vessel or a
British vessel with American passen.
gers. Certainly the Berlin govern.
ment was so urged to conduct subma.
rire operations in the dispatches sent
by the German embassy here. 1t is
held that only an intention to preci-
plate break with the United States
could explain German submarine at
tack on the NeDraskan, for the cir.
of the case make it quite
the most fragrant offense yet commit.
ted so far as disregard of law Is con.
cerned.
Flew U. S. Flag.
The Nebraskan was flying the
United States flag as is her right;
she was bound for her home and not
a belligerent port; she had no con.
traband on board Not only is there
absolutely no excuse which could be
n ade for an attack on her, but also
t is the fact that no military purpose
whatever could have been served by
sinking her. Consequently If it is es.
allished that the Nebraskan was tor
pcdoed by German submarine it will
be regarded here as a wanton attempt
at pure destruction on the part of the
submarine and In absolute violation
Of all the existing laws governing
rights Of merchantmen on the high
seas
Might Have Been Internationally Hit.
The only possible explanation seen
here for the torpedoing OF the Ne,
bra skan--if that proves to be the fact
is that It was a mistake on the part
Of the submarine commander. Il is
not believed here that a submarine
commander could easily have made
such mistake but IL Is admitted as
a possibility. The explosion occurred
at about o'clock in the evening
Eich at this season in those waters
is the time of twilight consequently
the Nebraskan must have been plain.
ly visible. Also the submarine com.
mander could hardly have failed Ia
notice that her course was away from
and not toward England.
Under Contract Of Navy.
The Nebraskan was on her wAv
home to fulfill contract NJ her own.
ers win the United States Nav
--
Left at the Post, So to Speak.