New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-05
Thresher Death Will
Be Included i'm the
Representations.
OTHER NEUTRALS
TO INITIATE u. S.
Examination Shows the
Tanker'S Forward Hold
Filled with Water.
CARGO is UNDAMAGED
Owners Anxious to Make Re-
pairs and Proceed, but Crew
Seems Disinclined.

lFror TIE Tribune Bureau.l
Washington, May T. The investiga-
tion of the circumstances in which the
American oil tanker Gulfight was at
tackled will be marked by extreme eau.
tion on the part of the United States
government. officials of the State De-
partment, while willing TO give out
such information regarding the attack
ss comes into their hands, have thus
far given little or no indication OF the
course which the United States will
follow in this matter. 1t is frankly ad-
mitted that strong representations
must perforce be made to Germany
should the original statement OF the
surviving officers and crew of the
tanker be borne out.
The President to-day intimated quite
strongly that the attack on the Gulf
light was only one Of chain of Incl
dents, which included the dropping Of
an aerial bomb upon the deck OF the
American ship Cushing and the drown
ing Of Leon Chester Thresher in the
sinking Of the British-African liner
Falaba. These three incidents took
place within the war zone" declared
by Germany TO exist around the Brit
ish Isles and of the coast Of France.
The GuAight incident, if the facts
later to be adduced bear out the state
ments made by her first officer, Ralph
Smith. is regarded as the most fragrant
and the most disregardful OF neutral
rights and Of the recognized principles
of international law of any OF the in
cidents cited above.
For this reason il is the belief in
Washington that the American gov
ernment will group these incidents in
a new and vigorous protest TO Berlin
against the continuance Of Germany's
undersea warfare against neutral ship-
ping.
L. s. Will Act Alone.
As heretofore, there is no suggestion
of a coordination OF diplomatic effort
between the United States and the
scandinavian countries, whose ships
have suffered far more through the
operation Of the German submarines
than have our own. At the same time.
the American government is fully ac-
auainted with the feeling OF the gov-
ernments Of Norway, Sweden and Dem
mark and also that of The Netherlands.
and the American protest, when Ut
tered. will probably be backed by CO.
incident. although not collateral, pro-
tests from the governments mentioned.
Secretary of State Bryan said to-day
that he had addressed inquiries TO the
American Ambassadors IN London ana
Berlin. The State Department, he SAID,
had also instructed Consul General
skinner in London and Consul stephen,
at Plymouth, the nearest important
port TO the Scilly Islands, TO ex-
anime the survivors of the Gulhlghts
crew. Mr.. Bryan said that the depart
ment had received cable dispatch
from Consul General skinner, IN whien
the facts as related in the newspapers
we're repeated, but he added that there
was nothing in Mr. SINNERS dispatch
information other than hearsay.
The State Department to-day re-
ceiyed from the Gulf Refining Com
pany, of New York, the following repe"
tition of its own cable dispatches
from Ralph Smith, first officer OF the
Gulfight.
First Officer Reports.
Smiths cable dispatch was dated
May 2, the day after the attacks. IL
said:
"GulAight summarized Saturday. Pa
troll boats standing BY, will probably
salve. Operator Short, Seaman Cha
penta drowned. Captain died to-day,
heart failure. Body landed Seilly:
American Consul protecting interests"
A second cable dispatch dated from
Scilly on Sunday. said:
"Gulhight towed into Scilly."
To-day at noon another cable dis
patch was received from Smith, which
said:
advise Immediately disposal OF cap
tain's remains; crew gone Penzanee:
Butterworth, chief engineer, myself
standing by. Anchored Scilly. Tugs
here will tow English port. Naval au-
thorities charge"
The following statement regarding
the interest of the Gulf Refining Com
many in its steamer was given out by
the company:
"This steamer is the property Of the
Gulf Refining Company, Texas cor
poration. having business Offices In
Pittsburgh. She was bound on
voyage from Port Arthur, Tex, 20
Rouen, France, with a cargo OF gaso-
lene consigned TO the Compagnie in-
dustrielle des Petroles.
AT Rouen. France. the company has
no knowledge or information indicst-
ing that the gasolene was intended Tor
other than private consumption.
A cable dispatch from Ralph z.
Smith. chief officer Of the Gulhight, the
American oil tank vessel torpedoed on
the Scilly Islands By y German SUB
marine, was received in New York yes
terday By the Gulf Refining Company,
Of % State Street, owners OF ths
steamer.
The communication merely confirmed
the previous reports ot the mannsx ~