Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-23
UNITED STATES
IS LOOKING INTO
EVELYN 5 WRECK
Anxiety Is Felt for Safety of
Part Of Crew Headed for
Dutch Coast but So Far
Not Heard From.

10y poasse JoussAl SPECIAL lsAsso mssl
! Washington, Feb. 20. - President
\ Wilson conferred with Secretary
Bryan tonight concerning the dcstruc-
ton Of the American steamer Evelyn
off the coast Of Germany last Friday
but IN the absence OF definite infor-
nation as TO the cause of the wreck.
no course Of action beyond diplomatic
Inquiries was decided upon.
Having learned unofficially that "a
part OF the Evelyn'e crew was cast
adfft from the sinking vessel headed
for the coast of Holland. Secretary
Bryan cahlod to American Minister
Henry Van Dyke. AZ The Hague, the
same message he previously had sent
70 Ambassadors Page and Gerard, at
London ana Berlin, asking that every
care he extended 10 the crew and an
Investigation of the facts of the oc-
currence be made through all avail
able agencies.
Careful Investigation.
Earlier in the day Secretary Daniels
instructed the naval attachc Of the
American embassy at Berlin to make
an Investigation of the disaster and
report such technical information as
was possible for him to gather con-
corning the mine fields. the course Of
the vessel at the time of her mishap,
when she took a pilot aboard, and
other data which might aid the Unit
ed states In forming judgment as to
responsibility or the destruction Of
the ship.
II was conceded in official quarters
that IL the nationality OF the mine
were not determined and IL no proof
were obtained TO show whether Off
IL .it4
concerning the courses they should
steer, were being followed by the Eve
lyn there would be virtually no
ground for diplomatic protest. a civil
suit however. by the United states
risk Insurance bureau and the owners
of the vessel and cargo Is ctrtain To
follow upon such evidence as can be
gathered through the official inquiries
now being made Some officials
thought that claim for damages
might even I've laid against both Ger
many and Great Britain If the mines
were sown far beyond belligerent
zones Of operations without giving due
notice TO neutral craft.
Anxiety for Part of Crew.
Some anxiety prevailed among Of
ficials over tho fate of that portion Of
the crew OF the Evelyn supposed H.
have rowed for the coast of Holland
after the vessel struck. The message
last night from American Consul Fee
az Bremen said merely: THE crew
saved" and made no mention Of any
missing men This was not supple
mented by any further message today
and officials knew only through press
reports that the mate and sailors who
originally were thought TO have been
landed safely IN Holland had not been
reported through any OF the coast
guard stations or the Dutch admiralty
as having been located anywhere IN
Holland.
While the case Of the Evelyn CON
tinued today to absorb attention the
fact that no international convention
now IN force governs the laying Of
mines. and that It had been possible
for other neutral governments who
had lost vessels IN similar manner
during the present war 10 fix the re-
sponslbility for the accidents. re-
moved some of the tension which first
reports of the wreck produced.
No Protests Likely.
Although there has been no pro-
test thus far from the United States
concerning the laying OF mines in bel
ligerent waters and none Is believed
likely at this time, 1t was considered
possible in many quarters that an ef
fort might he made by the American
government 10 learn more definitely
from the belligerents the precautions
which they have taken to safeguard
neutral commerce in the mine zones
and 60 obtain more data on which
American ship captains could be guild
ed IN the future as 10 safe channels.