Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-22
German Attack on Stranded
British Submarine E-13
ArouSes Scandinavia.
VIOLATION OF DANISH
NEUTRALITY CHARGED
Half of Members of Lost Vessels
Crew Said to Have Been
Killed by Teutons.

has been aroused in Denmark and the
whole of Scandinavia as the result of
the attack by German destroyers on
the British submarine E-13 after she
stranded on a Danish island.
According to the British official ac-
count and reports from Copenhagen the
E-13 went aground Thursday morning.
The officers and crew were busy try
ing to refloat her under orders from
the Danish naval authorities, WI > had
given them twenty-four hours to &C
complish the task, when German de-
stroyers appeared on the scene. One of
them, after firing torpedo which
missed it's mark, is reported to have
opened fire with her guns even after
the crew had abandoned the sub
marine, which was afire.
Men in Water Targets.
The British official account says the
German destroyer fired at the men in
the water with machine guns and
shrapnel Not until after Danish de-
stroyers got between the Germans and
their prey did they cease firing, the re-
port says.
Half the thirty members of the crew
of the submarine were killed and their
bodies will be sent home In DANISH
warship. Those who escaped will be
interned in Denmark.
The Danish government has protest.
ed to Germany, while the press OF all
the Scandinavian countries expresses
it's concern at the violation OF neutral
territory.
Admiralty Statement.
The admiralty story of the affair fol-
lows:
"a report has been received from
Lieut., Commander Layton, commanding
the E-13, whose grounding on the Dan
ish Island of Saltholm was published
yesterday. The lieutenant commander
reports that the submarine grounded
in the early morning OF August - All
efforts to refloat her failed.
"At 5 O'Clock Danish torpedo BOAT
appeared on the scene and informed the
E-13 that she would be allowed twenty
four hours to get off. At the same time
a German torpedo boat arrived an. any
remained close to the submarine until
two more Danish torpedo boats came
up, when she withdrew.
AT 3 o'clock while the three Danish
torpedo boats were anchored close 10
the submarine two German torpedo
boats approached from the south.
When about half a mile away one OF
these hoisted a commercial flag signal,
but before the commanding ohncer OF
the E-13 had time to read 1T the Ger
mans directed torpedo at her from
a distance of about 100 yards. The
torpedo exploded on hitting the bot
tom close to her.
Orders Vessel Abandoned.
"At the same moment the German de-
stroyer fired with all her guns, and
Lieut. Commander Layron, seeing that
his submarine was on fire fore and aft
and unable to defend herself owing to
her being aground, gave orders for the
crews to abandon her. While the men
were in the water they were fired upon
by machine guns and with shrapnel.
Zone of the Danish torpedo boats i'm
mediateIy lowered her boat and steam
ed between the submarine and the Ger
man destroyers, who, therefore, had to
cease fire and withdraw.
"No Excuse" Say Danes.
The Copenhagen correspondent of
Reuters Telegram Company sends the
following dispatch regarding the sink
ing of the British submarine E-13:
1.-THE destruction of the British sub
marine E-13 in Danish territory by
German destroyers, under circum-
stances which placed the shipwrecked
craft under Danish protection. has
aroused widespread indignation, which
finds expression in the Danish news
papers 1t is urged that there can be
no explanation or plausible excuse for
the deliberate violation of Danish ter
rift t0rnadO boat
thoroughly investigated the locality be-
fore returning with the others to at
tack the defenseless crew.
Follows German Methods, Claim.
The Wort Land. says:
There can be no question that the
German commander was aware he was
violating Danish neutrality. The incl
dent is simply in accordance with Ger
man methods throughout the whole
war
1.-The Koebenhaven says:
1--WE received the news with deep
pain that fourteen sailors of a friendly
nation lost their lives, not even in UNI
equal combat, but without the faint
est chance of defending themselves
Dane Reported Wounded.
"The Journal Hovedestaven pub
fishes a rumor that one Danish torpedo
boat had a man wounded and its wire
less damaged by German shells.
THE entire press commends the gov
ernment's action in promptly protesting
to Berlin, and assures the government
that it will receive the support of the
whole nation in whatever action is
taken. :.
THE admiralty has ordered that the
patrol ships around Copenhagen be in
creased A German Zeppelin this
morning reconnoitered over the waters
southeast of Copenhagen and photo
grabbed the wreck of the E-13.