Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-07
Secretary Lansing Says the
Evidence Is Not ConClu-
Sive in Case.
U, s, MAY CHANGE POLICY
ON GUNS ABOARD SHIPS
Alteration of Position Would Be Of
Far-Reaching Importance
internationally.

Commanding officers of the
sunken liner Hesperian in a
Joint affidavit, forwarded to the
State Department today, de-
clared that from the fragments
of steel which fell on the deck
it was "indubitably" shown
that the ship was struck by a
torpedo.
Commander Main and the first
and second officers OF the Hes
perian made the affidavit, which
was cabled by American Consul
Frost at Queenstown.
They asserted that the torpedo
struck the ship about eight feet
below the water line, and that the
steel fragments flew about the
deck with large quantities of
water. ..
They also declared that there
was a strong odor of high explo-
sive and that the Hesperian had
a six-inch gun on board which
had been painted a service gray
and would not have been con-
spicuous, even at short range, and
probably would not have been OBJ
served at all through the peri
scope of a submarine"
Secretary Lansing announced
at the State Department today
that he has received another long
cablegram from Mr.. Frost, the
United States consul at Queens
town, with reference to the sink
ing of the Allan liner Hesperian
off the British coast Saturday
night, with the result, the Secre-
tary said, that it is not conclusive
that the Hesperian was sunk by
a torpedo from German subma-
rine. as was at first reported.
simultaneously, there were in
dications that the United States
may change its policy as to what
constitutes an armed merchant
man, in view of the fact that re-
ports have it that the Hesperian
carried a gun on her after deck.
Officials admitted that a decision
on this point, involving change
in the United States procedure
toward such ships, would be of
far-reaching importance to the in
ternational situation arising over
the submarine question.
In view of Mr.. Frost's report above
alluded to. 1t is understood that the
Washington government will now set
tie down to another long waiting game,
to ascertain the real facts. 1t was an
nounced that the State Department
will pursue the same course as that
pursued in the Lusitania and Arabic
cases. and obtain the afidavits of
Americans who were on board.
Two Americans In Crew.
In this connection a cablegram was
received from Mr.. Frost In which he
said two United States citizens, stew
ards on the ship. were saved. They
were Francis J. Dallas of Buffalo, N. Y.
and Barney Mcmillan of Grand Rapids
Mich Both were below when the
tragedy happened.
In this message. Mr.. Frost used the
phrase that the Hesperian sank near
where she was torpedoed." and in al
luding TO the stewards he used the
phrase that they were below when
the torpedo struck" NotwithstandinR
the use of this phrase twice in this
particular message, Mr.. Lansing said
that he had another long message from
Mr. Frost; which he preferred not to
conclusive that the Hesperian wa.
really torpedoed by a German sub
marine.
Ambassador Page. at London. cabled
the State Department today that the
British admiralty had informed hin
that the Hesperian was sailing as ar
ordinary passenger vessel and ha6
never been in the British government
service since the war began.
There were no troops aboard" the
ambassadors message continued Som.
wounded and invalid soldiers were
aboard. travelling on individual ticket.
as other passengers"
1mmaterial Questions.
Those who are familiar with the Lusi
ianta. Arabic and Hesperian casts toda,
pointed out that SO far as the position
which has been assumed by the Wash
inston government in its discussions will
Germany Of the submarine warfare ques
tion is concerned. the question of whethe,
or not there were Canadian troops On tn,
Hespertan at the time she was attacked
u she was attacked. is not material
There was high authority for this state
ment again today.
II was pointed out that the United
Econtinued on Second PaEe.)