New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-08
One Vessel Escapes
from Raider in
Mediterranean.
u.BOAT FLEW
AUSTRIAN FLAG
Several Americans on the
Communipaw, Says Off
cial of Standard Oil.

Rome. Dec. THE American oil
..s.mer Communipaw has been sunk by
A.. submarine in the Mediterranean. near
TObruk. Tripoli No information has
been received concerning the crew or
the nationality of the submarine.
The Communipaw was recently held
bv the Italian government at Genoa,
Int was allowed to sail for her destina-
hon on December 2, owing to represen-
tstlons made TO the government by the
American Embassy here.
The Communipaw was owned by the
Standard Oil Company Of New Jersey
and sailed from New York October 2
for Egypt.
Washington, Dec. Word that the
American Standard Oil tank steamer
p,trolite was shelled Sunday in the
EASTERN Mediterranean by large sub
marine Aying the Austrian flag came
10 ne Navy Department late to-day IN
cable message from the cruiser Des
Moine,. At Canea, Island Of Crete. One
man on the tanker was slightly injured
This information was turned over
10 the State Department. where It was
said that no action would be taken
pepdine the receipt Of further details
No r.nort had been received by the
government tonight of the sinking OF
tbs Standard Oil steamer Communl-
nav bv a submarine off the coast OF
TripoH. report in press dispatches
from Rome. and officials did not COM
ment on the case in the absence OF IN
formation concerning the circum-
stances.
Il was pointed out that the attitude
Of the United States would depend en-
trely on whether the tankers were at
tackled without warning or attempted
70 escape after being called upon 70
submit 20 visit and search. In the case
Of the Petrolite, it appeared that she
no. only tried to escape, but actually
did so.
When the dispatch from the Des
Molnes arrived, officials thought they
had the explanation Of the mysterious
wireless message picked up at Athens
saying an American vessel was being
attacked By a submarine south Of the
Island Of Crete. II was recalled, how
ever. that the message reached Athens
Saturday morning, while the Petrolite
did not encounter the submarine until
Sunday.
II the Communipaw was sunk near
tie coast Of Tripoli, she must have
been some 500 miles or more from the
Doin. where the call picked up at
Athens was said to have originated.
David 7. Warden, Of Montclair, y. j.,
manager % the foreign shipping de-
partment Of the Standard Oil Company
81 New Jersey. said last night tnat the
last word he had received from the
Communipaw was message from Gap
tain Nordstrom. sent when the yessel
was released by the Italian govern
nent a. Genoa on November 30.
IL crew OF the Communipaw num-
bered thirty-nine. Captain Nordstrom
h a naturaiized American, Mr.. Warden
tSid, and the four engineers also are
Americans, but he knew nothing Of the
nationality Of the othes men aboard,
although they we're picked up in this
Vicinity and probably several Of them
q least we're citizens Of the United
States.
The Communipaw formerly was the
Deutschland, fying the German flag and
,aili-g from Hamburg. She was one Of
the sie mers Of the Standard oil feet,
which was transferred 20 American
registry after the European war began.
Part Of the COmmunipag's cargo was
consigned % Italy and the remainder