The Washington times., 1915-06-14
ST. PAUL PASSENGER
SAW A SUBMARINE
Believes Attempt Was Planned
to Attack American Ship in
Irish Sea.

NEW YORK. June 4-with the ar
steamship st. Paul II became known
that the vessel was conveyed by two
British destroyers from the time she
left Liverpool, on May 8, until she was
off Fastnet, at the entrance to the irish
Channel.
There was much speculation and
many reasons advanced why an Ameri-
can ship flying the American flag,
should find 1t necessary to have a con-
voy in British waters. The presence or
the two British fighting craft caused
uneasiness among the passengers, ana
when about o'clock in the evening
the destroyers began series of rapiu
maneuvers It was feared submarine
attack was imminent.
In an interview in his cabin after
the st. Paul had been made fast at her
pier at West Twenty-second street, Cap
tain Passow said that 80 far as he knew
It was the first time an American liner
had been escorted by British warships
from any port in Great Britain.
Conveyed By Destroyers.
I'VE were at the landing stage at 3
o oclock." the captain continued. when
a navay captain, informed me that
secret orders had just been received
from the Admiralty office I'm London
by telephone TO dispatch destroyers No.
/ and No. 4 as escorts to the st. Paul
as far as the Fastnet. which is 800
miles from Liverpool and at the en-
trance to the Irish channel.
Shortly after he had gone ashore
destroyer No. / made fast at the landing
stage and her commander came on
board the ship and asked me how
would like them to proceed-whether the
st. Paul or abeam, or one ahead and
one astern. AS 1t was possible there
might be fog In the channel, did not
wish them to come close, and suggested
that they steam one on either bow. In
the morning there was fog Off the
Irish coast. and sounded my steam
whistle, while the destroyers used their
sirens occasionally.
Woman Saw Perescope.
Mrs. H. Sedgwick, who was accom-
panied by her daughters. Adelaide and
Eileen, seemed convinced that the
British government had taken the
precautionary measure because Of in
formation that submarine attack
would be made on the st. Paul. Mrs.
Sedgwick declared that when the
destroyers began zigzag maneuvers
on the night OF May 6 she distinctly
saw the periscope of subma rine
some distance ahead on the port side.
Previous to the time I saw the sub
the ueSlTOy6TS DeSdn signal
ing with sirens and there was quite
a commotion. Many of the passengers
thought there was something wrong
and flocked to the port side of the
, ship. The lifeboats were swung out
| looked ahead and saw the peri
| scope of a submarine. Only for a
| moment was II visible. 1t may have
| been a British submarine. l do not
know. Evidently It dii not appear
again and the conveying ships resum-
ed their positions"
Other passengers did not believe that
there had been an attempt to attack.
Captain Passow declared he saw no sub-
marine. s.
When he was told that Mrs. H. Sedge-
wick had told reporters she saw a sub
marine rise to the surface in the River
Mersey about an hour and a half after
the St Paul left the landing stage at 6
o'clock, and that the liner had ex-
changed signals with the comnanders
of the destroyers. Captain Passow said
that he believed II must be imagination.