Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-02-22
BRITISH TRANSPORT BLOWN
UP BY GERMANS, REPORT
But British Admiralty Fails to
Confirm RepOrt-Scan-
dinayians Confer.
|EvELYN'S OWNERS
WILL NOT PROTEST
Report Austrians Plan "lVaF
Zone" In Adriafic
Sea.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2z.-secre1azzi
Daniels today ordered Commander
Walter r. Gherardi, american naval
attache at Berlin, to investigate ana
make fun report on the destruction
OF the American steamer Evelyn.
which struck a mine, Saturday near
Borkum Island, of the German coast.
So far official advices merely have re-
ported the sinking Of the vessel aud
her cargo. but gave no detaiIs
Secretary Daniels explained that NJ
purpose in directing an inquiry aftsr
the state department. had called upon
the ambassadors at London and Bsr-
lin for report, was to secure tschnss
cal information, which, perhaps. might
not be included in the ambassadors
replies. 1t was. Of course. understood
that Commander Gherardi, as Amer
lean attache at the American ennhasrx
at Berlin, would be guided entirely By
Ambassador Gerard in making Als In
vestigation.
1t was said at the navy depaytmanE
that from present Indications 4 win
be difficult for the naval ofhcsr 70 ss-
cure exact information Of what actu-
ally destroyed the Evelyn Unless
Captain Smith or some Of khs rnsrn-
bers of the crew Of the steamship an-
tnaIIy saw the coming tCwsr or peri
scope OF a submarine, oficzalz say L
would not be possible to deny thai tire
Evelyn was sunk BY a mine.
Inquiry would BE Dfmouss.
The fact that the Evelyn nee at the
bottom Of the North Sea would make
II difficult TO examine her huil. L wae
pointed out, however, that German
officials might disclose to the Amer
ican naval officer In confidence thsmap
of their mine fields in the vicinitv
where the Evelyn was sunk.
The ministers from the Netherlands
called at the state department early
today TO inquire what reports this
government had received about the
Evelyn. He said he had no ofactal
report OF the destruction OF the vessel.
After comforting with Counselor Ian
sing. he expressed the opinion that ths
sinking apparently must have beer
entirely accidental.
Chairman Stone, OF the Senate for.
eign relation committee. said he could
see no complications arising from the
destruction Of the Evelyn.
"An American vessel" said the sen
ate. ''ventured into an area known 20
be mined and unfortunately struck
-. -. -
| ton laid the mine. II IL probable that
a national claim for damages might
be made when all the facts are estah-
lished. but l cannot see how serious
complications could come from the IN
/ cident"
Cautious Against Ezcitemexs.
'orhe EveIyn's destruction is not .
thing for the country to get excited
about Chairman Flood. Of the
House foreign affairs COMMITTEES. said
today, In discussing the blowing up
of the American steamer of Bcrkum
Island last Saturday.
Shipping interests knew that Sec
ton Of the sea was mined. II vessels
are sent deliberately into mined
waters accidents of that kind may be
expected. This country's course II &c
I Senator Simmons, one OF the fran
/ ers of the bill which created the
war risk bureau. White House
caller today, said he assumed an ef.
/ fort would be made first TO establish
the responsibility for the sinking OF
/ the Evelyn and that II the nation
ality of the mine could be discoverot
/ the government war risk hureau
would make efforts to collsct dana
ages.
The war risk bureau has ell fAs
powers Of q private insurance COM
pany," said Senator Simmons. When
the government goes INTO business
of this kind it loses Its offlcial statue
but simply because this Is govern
ment agency 1t does not have less
right than a private agency OF tbs
same kind would have"
I'VE might as well have blown Up
one OF our own ships," was the fornn
in which German embassy offictale
today denied the deliberate deetrue-
tion by their countrymen OF the
Evelyn"
The very fact that the vessel vas
bound for Bremen laden with cotton.
commodity in great demand In Ger
many, rendered such a suRgestiop
ridiculous, 1t was insisted The ideA
1 that the Evelyn was suemarinE
victim was also Ecoffed at, the theory
| that the craft struck a mine beius
deemed the most reasonable one
The Evelyn is the first American
vessel to meet with disaster Rs y
result of the sea warfare of the Euro
pean nations. She did not sink within
| the war zone included in the German
admiralty's decree OF February 4
which went into effect on Thursday
Borkum Island hes directly on the
German coast, at the mouth OF EnE
River, and is German territory.
| Maritime records give the compile
naent of the Evelyn as twenty -seye1s
men, so that 1t Is probable that eI3
on board the weasel were rescued.
| The Evelyn was singie-ncreH
steel steamship. She was z35 f8e<
| long and 1,1s5 tons net She NEs
built in Southampton. England. =
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