The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-01
Vessel in Transport Glass; New
Crisis May Be Averted.
Sea Victims Killed Outright by
Speedy Submarine.
q AMERICANS AMONG LOST
Shell Down Skylight Puts En-
CINE Out of Action.
Shots Cut Down LifebOatS,
SpiIling LucklesS Crew.

Washington, July 1.-The Leyland
line steamship Armenian was ''en-
gagged on admiralty business when
she was sunk by a German submarine
off the Cornwall coast of England
two days ago with the loss of a score
OF American lives.
Ambassador Page at London report
ed to the state department today he
had been so informed by British ad-
miralty officials.
Consul Armstrong at Bristol, who
sent first word of the destruction of
the steamer yesterday, reported to
Ambassador Page today that twenty
one of the twenty-nine men lost with
the Armenian were Americans He
gave no additional names, although
previous list included only twenty
Americans.
No Basis Yet for Inquiry.
The ambassadors dispatch gave no
details fon which the state department.
could base consideration of the case.
He said that as the Armenian carried
no passengers, presumably all the
Americans who periShed were mem
bers of the crew. 1t was pointed out
here, however, that Americans seek
ing cheap transportation frequently
travel upon such ships as passengers.
although they are signed on the ships
roll as members of the crew.
Some persons were inclined to the
belief that if the Armenian was en-
gagged in admiralty business this
would place the vessel in the transport
class, eliminating the possibility of a
controversy between the United States
and Germany.
Wilson in Constant Touch.
Officials of the steamship company
have stated that the Armenian was
not under charter to the British adj
Iniralty, but was sailing merely as d
merchantmen carrying contraband.
AT the White House it was stated
touch from Cornish, n. H., and that no
steps would be taken until complete
reports had been received. The pres
ident probably would not hasten his
return to Washington, it was said.
Secretary TumultY was in commune
cation with the president until late
last night, forwarding details. The
president was in communication with
today after Mr.. Tumulty had con-
ferred with Secretary Lansing.
Wheat-Laden Bark TorpedOed.
London, July 1.-The British bark
Thistlebank, which sailed from Bahia
Blanca, Argentine, April 26, with a
torpedoed by a German submarine
yesterday at a point off Fastnet, Ire
land. Some of the crew were landed
at Baltimore, a small seaport forty
No Attempt at Rescue.
Cardiff, Wales, July survivors Of
the Armenian arriving here say that
the German su ubmarine ran close to
the drowning men who had been
thrown into the water by a capsizing
boat, but that the crew of the subma-
rine did not attempt to rescue any OF
them.
Wilson Stays at Cornish.
Cornish, n. H., July President
Wilson has instructed the state depart
ment to make a full investigation of
the sinking of the Leyland line steam
ship Armenian by a German subma-
rine and to keep him completely in
formed of all developments. He re-
mained in his study during the fore
noon, in order to be in constant touch
with Washington.
1t was declared authoritatively that
for the present President Wilson has
no thought of hurrying back to Wash
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