Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-22
WHETHER BY MINE
. OR SUBMARINE NOT
GIVEN IN DISPATCH
Vessel Destroyed Off Ger
man Coast, but Crew
Is Saved.
SCENE OF DISASTER
AWAY FROM WAR ZONE
United States Government Ad-
vised Officially of Loss
of Ship.
EXHAUSTIVE INQUIRY ORDERED
Cabled to Make Full Re-
port Of Facts.

WASHINGTON. February 21-The
United States government was advised
officially tonight of the destruction
seas since tho outbreak OF the Euro
pean war. American Consul Fee. Mt
Bremen. cabled that the steamer
Evelyn and her cargo OF cotton bound
for Bremen had been blown up at
Borkum." just off the German coast,
and that the crew had been saved.
The cause. submarine or mine, was not
given in tho dispatch.
After n conference with President
Wilson. Secretary Bryan cabled Ambas-
sador Page at London and Ambassador
Gerard Mt Berlin to make an exhaustive
inquiry ms to the fncts and, II the crew
was landed In either OF their respective
jurisdictions, to furnish every care and
convenience to Captain Smith and his
men.
Although the extent OF sea zones of
war proclaimed by Germany was never
defined exactly. the Borkum Islands are
considered far distant from the danger
areas OF submarines. The waters of
the vicinity are mined for defensive
purposes, and Germany always has
ACCIDENT PROBABLY
CAUSED ny NINE
AT the German embassy tonight 1t
was pointed out that the accident
must have been caused by n mine. rs
Germany, sorely In need OF cotton,
would not torpedo q vessel laden with
SUCH cargo for German consumption.
Early press dispatches from Berlin.
81 n n n N Nf thn 4.
mine. caused 4 sensation In Washing
ton. where the tension has been moro
or less pronounced over the situation
In the war zones since the dispatch OF
warning notes to both Great Britain
ana Germany. 1t was virtually con-
ceded that II the cause of the accident
was proved to be q mine, there prob
ably would be no ground for diplomatic
action by the United States, as the
laying OF mines Is not prohibited by
any international conventions now I'm
force.
Consul Fees cablegram gave the
state Department meagre informatIon
1t said: Steamer Evelyn Captain
Smith. agents Bull & Co. New York,
blown up early Friday at Borkum.
Crew saved. Ship and cargo lost"
1t was generally taken for granted
vessel was destroyed by n mine. but
the omission OF any mention of cause
introduced an element of speculation.
Tho United States government earlier
In tho day virtually had decided to
make no reply to either the British
or the German note concerning the use
or neutral ensigns or possible attacks
oS submarines on neutral vessels In
the new sea zones OF war
SILENCE DID NOT
COMPROMISE RIGHTS
When the North Sea first was mined,
some neutral countries protested to
both Germany and Great Britain. but
the United States took the position that
II was impossible TO determine which
country had been the agErcssor and
therefore. made no protest, though Il
does not consider It's rights com
promised by this silence
automatically, neutrals are helpless
in obtaining redress for the loss of
ships by contact with mines, unless alb
solute proof can be adduced to show
the nationality OF the mines that no
pilot was available or that the mines,
drifting from their anchorage, were FAR
distant from belligerent areas
Efforts to obtain n convention to pro.
'''piN tHe pl mines nave tailed.
In 1907 such a convention was drafted
and ratified by the United States. Great
Britain and n few OF the other nations.
though II never became effective.
In one OF the publications of the
United states Naval College. for the
benefit OF American naval commanders,
the status OF the question OF mines
and torpedocs is thus summarized:
1T may be affirmed that the use OF
mines Is legitimate. means OF hostiii-
ties as between belligercnts. This
position does not imply that mines may
be used at Will without regard to those
not concerned in the war. The use OF
mines should be confined strictly to
military operations and areas, and tho
perils should not extend TO innocent
neutrals."
MAY HAVE CLAIM
AGAINST GERMANY
The reference in rhe message from
American Consul Fee 10 tho destruc-.
tion OF the Evelyn at Borkum was in
terpreted In some quarters as meaning
that the vessel was within the terri
torial waters OF Germany when, sho
struck tho mine. Consequently, somo