Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-09
Note on Arabic Said to Have
Been Handed to Gerard
Tuesday.
AFFIDAVITS RECEIVED
BY STATE DEPARTMENT
Taken by U. S. Embassy Officials in
London After Sinking of
the Liner.

Afidavits bearing on the sink
ing of the Arabic by a German
submarine, taken by United
States embassy officials at Lon
don, were received today by Sec
retary Lansing. He declined to
discuss them. As to the Hes
perian, reported sunk by a Ger
man submarine, the Secretary
said he had no further informa-
ton. Official confirmation of the
death of Wolff, as the result OF
the Hesperian tragedy, reached
the department today, but the
question as to VOLTS citizenship
was raised, and officials indicated
that they are without information
that Wolff is really a citizen Of
the United States, as news dis
patches have reported him to be.
There was much more interest in the
Arabic case today than in that of the
Hesperian, inasmuch as the State De-
partment is now waiting. in regard %
the latter, for information from Berlin,
for which Ambassador Gerard was
asked yesterday by cable. The Secre-
tary of State had nothing further to
add to previous statements at the de-
partment that it is inconclusive that
the Hesperian was torpedoed.
Confirmation Lacking.
AS to the Arabic. there was no con-
firmation at the State Department of
Berlin dispatches, printed in another
column of The Star. saying German
submarine commander reported to his
government that he torpedoed the Ara
bic because he believed he was about
to = torpedoed by the liner. 1t is pre-
sumed that if such a report was made
Ambassador Gerard will forward it
soon to the department. Germany's
promised communication in regard to
the sinking of the Arabic is expected
here within a few days.
officials will not comment on press Re
ports. The German ambassador has given
assurances that full satisfaction will be
accorded the United States in connection
with the destruction of the Arabic, and
there the State Department rests for the
present
Reply Not Yet Received.
Germany's promised communication on
the Arabic is understood to have been de-
liyered to Ambassador Gerard Tuesday.
1t is said that it ascribes the liners de-
struction to submarine, whose COM
mander felt obliged to defend himself
when the Arabic changed its course to-
ward him, and 1t is also said that the
loss of American lives. and proposes to
refer to The Hague questions of repara-
ton and compensation. This, however. is
regarded as speculation, as the reply had
not been received at the State Department
this afternoon.
Instructions Received.
BERLIN, September g. via London
The instructions of the State Department
at Washington to Ambassador Gerard to
inquire whether the German government
possessed any information concerning the
sinking of the steamship Hesperian have
been received at the embassy here.
Naval Attache Sends a Report.
LONDON. September 9. 4:26 p.m-The
American embassy has forwarded to
the State Department at Washington
the report of Lieut.. Lewis B. Mcbride,
the naval attache at the embassy. re-
sarding the sinking of the liner Hes
perian. IL is understood that the report
throws 10 new light on the question
whether the liner was torpedoed.