Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-01
R,ppLED ev SHELLS.

Armenian Masoo E6ore 70 Escape and
~ Germans Show No Mercy.
Avormouth. England. July There
we're eleven Americans among the
nineteen members Of the crew which
lost their lives in the sinking OF the
Leyland freight steamer Armenian by
the German submarine U-3S. on ire
yose Head, Cornwall. on Monday. Some
members of the crew were killed OUT
right when the German torpedo struck
the ship.
When sunk by the German subma-
rine the Armenian was carrying a
cargo OF 1922 mules from Newport
New. 10 Ayonmouth, the animals to
he used by the French armies in Bel
rium and France. The vessel had
crew OF seventy-two men, and carried
ninety six men as muleteers.
The submarine was hrst sighted by
the man at the Wheel and tho the ship
was pushed to the limit, the mosquito
craft rapidly overhauled her and COM
menced shelling her. The Armenian's 8
efforts to keep her stern to the subma-
rine were futile.
Fired on After Suurrender.
Tho faster vessel circled the freight
er and the German commander, speak
! ting thru a megaphone. ordered the Ar
menian's captain to surrender. The
skipper OF the Leyland liner struggled
hard to evads the undersea boat. but
the latter dropped q shell thru the
skylight into the steamers engine
room. The Armenian then surren-
dered.
Life boats were lowered and the
crew and some seventy mule tenders.
nearly all Americans, scrambled into
them. AS one Of the boats was being
lowered a shell cut the falls Of the
boat. The occupants were spilled Into
the water and presumably were
drowned. The submarine then fired
two torpedoes into the Armenian and
the vessel sank within thirty minutes.
The survivors rowed aro1nd in the
boats til, Tuesday morning until a
E .team trawler landed them at Avon
mouth.
Pages Report Awaited.
Secretary Lansing announced today
that until more complete reports had
been received from Ambassador Page
at London on the submarine torpedoing
the liner Armenian. the state depart
meht would take no action.
The fact that the vessel made an at
tempt to escape after being ordered to
stop, led officials to believe that the
sinking was in accordance with inter-
national law.
Under the rules Of international law.
: A was pointed out that the Armenian
Iflev the British flag and. as we'll as
any neutral vessel, could be sunk for
refusing to obey an order to halt. The
Americans aboard such ship lost
protection of their government when
the vessel offered resistance.
Tension f1elaxsd.
There was q relaxation OF tension In
oificial circles on the news that the
Armenian apparently was resisting
capture. The law on the question OF
charter 10 not clear, but officials indi-
Gated II would not be violation Of
neutrality for an unaFned transport
carrying munitions and supplies for a
belligefent government to sail from the
United States, and 1t has never been
determined whether q man-of-war in
such cases should treat the vessel in
question as ship Of war or q mer-
ei1antman.
President Kept pestsd.
At the White House it was stated
that PRESIDENT Wilson was in con.
slant touch from Cornish, N. H., and
that no steps would be taken until
full details were received. Secretary
s Tumulty We In communication with
the president until late last night, for
warding Aeeails. The pfeeident va