The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-05
BERLIN MAY DENY
ATTACK WAS MADE
ON AMERICAN SHIP
Or Declare 1t Probable That
Torpedo Was Intended For
British Craft Conveying Oiler
Details Expected AS
To Attack Today
Several Causes of Complaint
On Part of This Country
May Be Handled Together.
Cases Deemed Urgent

Washington, May 4.--Tnforma-
ton transmitted to the state De-
partment today from several
sources tended TO confirm the first
reports that the American steam
ship Guinight was torpedoed by
German submarine without
warning.
The officiai attitude regarding the
case was still one of sIspending judg-
ment, however. until all facts are oh"
tanned.
The most important information
reaching the State Department today
was in a message from Consul General
Skinner. at London. understood to be
based on the statements made by the
survivors of the Gulflight. This con-
tanned the assertion that a submarine
was sighted twenty-five minutes be-
fore the Gulflight was struck. 1t Is a
fact. however. that nothing has yet
reached the State Department which
furnishes positive proof that the sub
marine sighted was German vessel.
or that she was the vessel which dis
charged a torpedo at the Gulflight.
1t is admitted. however, that the pre-
sumption Is strong.
| The Gulf Refining Company trans
rrttted to the department today from
| its offices In New York such reports
as had been made 10 1t as owners OF
the Gulfiight by her chief officer.
These messages were brief and one OF
them contained the statement that the
| oil vessel was ''submsrinei."
Details Are Expected Today.
! BY tomorrow II is expected more
detailed reports will be received "A
1.-THE State Department from its repre-
/ sentatiyes in England. Both Ambas-
and m ha =
dor Gerard. at Berlin. have been ask
ed to ascertain and send to Washing
ton all obtasnabie facts.
| II may be several days before the
herman government will have such
reports from its submarine operating
lin British waters as viii enable II to
state whether or not the Guiflight was
| torpedoed by one of them.
! President Wilson indicated today
that in all probability the cases which
thaye accumulatef as a result of Ger
MAYS operations on the seas woulo
All he handled together. There are the
icasa of Leon c. Thrasher. the Amert-
| can who lost his life when the British
steamship Falaba was torpedoed by 9
/ German submarine. the case of the oil
shin Gushing. damaged by bombs
dronped from q German aeroPlant
last week and the case of the Gun
light. provided official reports Indicate
that the vessel was attacked by q
German submarine
t Ali of these cases are considered
serious and urgent, and taken tosetnei
constitute a larger bill of complaint
/ than IL is felt is desirable for the
UNITED States government TO Ter &C
lcnmtlate against any government.
German Viewpoint.
German views of the Gnlhight cas-
| evidenced themselves here TO-DAY
While there was no eApress,oh au
thorived for publication on the par
Of any officiaI representative of Ger
many. through various channels tn
light in which Germany Is likely 7.
yfew the case was clearly indicated
According 10 the German view. l
is pointed out that the statement
| from the survivors received thus ia
| f~~at;r,a6 an Second paEe.l