New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-22
ARABIC CONVOY
CALLED A MYTH
Continued from page l

fee that the Arabic was not under con-
voy at any time. Ii was pointed out
that even had she taken a Zigzag
course she had perfect right TO do so,
as no attack could be made until the
submarine gave the order: stop, or
we'll torpedo you!" II is also definite
ly learned that the ship was unarmed.
Il has been the custom of British
ships TO take a zigzag course all
through the danger zone, and the
Arabic was no exception.
Passengers Intercepted on the sub
ject are unanimous in their belief that
the Arabic was not conveyed.
When President Wilson gets the afr
davits of the American survivors he
will find the whole testimony a denial
of the German defence that the Arabic
was warned. Here are a few state
ments he must consider:
Zellah Covington, the American .dra-
matist:
81 cannot find words condemnatory
enough or villanous enough to describe
the cowardly conduct of the Germans.
There could have been no excuse for
their act even if we Americans had
been warned to get off by their saying:
You are in an enemy ship; leave her,
as we are going to sink her But no
such warning was given. Our ship
was disembowlled even while we were
wondering what the cause was"
Lunatic or Liar.
Dr. James Rowley:
Nobody aboard saw the Submarine.
Some saw the wake of the torpedo
through the water and just few saw
il hit the vessel. The latter was the
only warning we received. Any one who
even suggests that warning was given
or that the Arabic tried to ram the
submarine is either an internal liar or
a lunatic."
Mrs. A. NJ. Van Schell:
II was in my stateroOm when the
torpedo struck us. The shock was con-
sderably less than | would have an
ticipated. / found there was no panic
and the people on deck were told i'm
mediately which boat to take. My only
criticism is that there didn't seem to
be any officers around TO give orders
for lowering the boats. | gave the
order to lower our boat"
James CalmOn:
"Mrs. Calmon and have lived abroad
many years. We were returning TO
America on the Arabic to start new
home there. We had just finished
breakfast and had gone on the prom
enade deck for a constitutional. We
had walked up and down probably two
or three times. | mustn't forget to
mention that near each of our life
boats stood a couple Of sailors, indi-
eating that the captain thoroughly APP
preciated the situation and wasn't TAX
ing any chances. All the passengers
lined the starbOard rail, when some
one shouted: Look out! Here it
comes.'
Saw Two Bodies.
Almost instantly there was terrific
explosion right under the spot where
we were standing aft on the prom
enade deck. We were thrown back and
a column Of water shot up sixty feet.
| saw what ! supposed was the shell
of a torpedo fly up, also the bodies Of
two steeTage passengers who had been
standing on the rail below us. Even
where we were every one was cool, got
lifebelts and put them on. The stew
ard directed us to get into the boat.
AS we were lowered the boat caught
the side of the Arabic. We pushed out,
hit the water safely and pulled away.
For few moments all wanted to be
shippers, but order soon obtained.
When we were about two hundred
yards off ] turned and watched the
Arabic, now well down by the stern
and sinking fast. When more than
half under there was another big ex-
plOsiOn as the boilers burst. 1t was a
terrible, awesOme sight as the wreck
age shot up like a big mushroom and
then settled down, spreading the sea
with many things. We stayed about
until perfectly sure no living persons
were unroscued Two people on life
raft were picked up by our boat. There
was plenty of room for all in the
eleven lifeboats. We had a sail hoisted,
and when another boat came over we
took them in tow. There was little
wind, so we barely drifted along.
About two hours later a British ship
picked us up, with others. and took us
TO Queenstown. Every one was very
kind
IF Captain Finch had had another
half minute ne would have been able
to swing the Arabic round so that the
torpedo would have gone by. 1t was an
experience we shall never forget 1t
II axes US rather nervous about starting
again, but we must leave by the next
boat. Like everyone else, we've lost
everything except our clothes. and the
things in our pockets.
Will Inform Ambassador.
"I'm going TO tell the American Am
bassador my story. and my only hope
is that our government will finally
tain action for there is no excuse
whatever for a murderous attack like
this. as we had no warning, carried no
naturally, and weren't
armed ourselves. 1t is positively GER
tain that no warning was given, or we
should have known about II. Germany
will have to make better defence,
though, as matter Of fact, there is
none she can make"
To add to these American statements
are the stories of the following two
Canadians.
Joseph De Lorimer, of Montreal;
81 had lust come on deck after break