The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-06-09
sunk BY MISTAKE
GERMANY OFFERS PAYMENT
FOR GULFLIGHT
SAY IT WAS MISTARE
Communication Handed to .:mbassa-
dor Gerard Explains Action Of
Commander in Not Recognizing
Vessel Under Convoy OF British

DNosA ~ NAS'
Germany, in a note cabled to the
State department by ambassador Ger
ard, at Berlin, expressed regrets that
through can unfortunate accident" a
German submarine had torpored the
American steamer Gulflight, and de-
clared itself ready to furnish full re-.
compense for the damage thereby
sustained by American citizens.
The text of the note, signed by the
minister of foreign affairs, reads:
Referring to- the note of May 2S,
the undersigned has the honor to in
formhis Excellency, the ambassador
of the United States Of America, Mr..
James W. Gerard, that the examinat-
ion undertaken on the part of the
German Government concerning the
American steamers Gulflight and
Gushing has led to the, following con-
clusions:
"In regard to the attack on the
steamer Gulflight, the commander OF
a German submarine saw on after
noon of May l., in the vicinity Of the
Sciliy Islands, a large merchant stea-
mer coming in his direction, which
was accompanied by two smaller ves-
sells. These latter took such position
in relation to the steamer that they
formed a regulation safegard against
submarines. Moreover, one of them
had wireless apparatus, which is
not usual with small vessels.
From this it evidently was case
of English convoy vessels. Since such
vessels are regularly armed, the sub
marine could not approach the steam
er on the surface Of the water with.
out running the danger Of destruc-
ton. It was, on the other hand, to
be assumed that the steamer was Of
considerable value to the British gov
ernment since it was so guarded. Tie
commander could see no neutral
markings on it Of any kind, that is,
distinctive markings painted on the
freeboard recognizable at distance
such as are now usual on neutral
ships N the English zone Of naval
warfare In Consequence he arrived
at the conclusion from all the cir
cumstances that he had to deal with
an English steamer. submerged and
attacked The torpedo came in the
immediate neighborhood of one Of the
convoy ships, which at once rapidly
approached the point Of firing, so that
the submarine was forced to go to a
great depth to avoid being rammed.
The conclusion of the commander
that an English convoy ship was con-
cerned was in this way confirmed.
"That the attacked steamer car
ried the American flag was first OBJ.
served at the moment of firing the
shot.
1.-The fact that the steamship was
pursuing course which led neither
to nor from America was a further
reason why it did not occur to the.
commander Of the submarine that he
was dealing with an American steam
ship.
Upon scrutiny of the time and
place of the occurrence described the
German government has become con-
vinced that the attacked steamship
was actually the American steamship
Gulfiight. There can be no doubt,
according to the attendant circum-
stances, that the attack is to be attri-
buted. 20 an unfortunate accident and
not to the fault of the commander.
"The German government ex-
presses it's regrets to the government
of the United States concerning this
incident and declares itself ready to
furnish full recompense for the dam
age thereby sustained by American
citizens. It is left to the discretion
of the American government to pre-
sent a statement of this damage, or,
if doubts may arise over individual
points, to designate an expert who
would have to determine, together
with a German expert, the amount OF
the damage.
"It has not yet been possible by
means Of an inquiry 20 clear up fully
the case of the American ship Cush-
ing. Official reports available report
only one merchant steamship attack
ed by a German flying machine in the
vicinity of Nordbind ightship. The
| German aviator was forced to con-
slider the vessel as hostile because it
carried no flag and further because
of no recognizable neutral markings.
The attack of four bombs was, Of
course, not aimed at any American
ship.
However, that the ship attacked
was the American steamer Cushing
is possible, considering the time and
place of the occurrence; nevertheless,
the German government accordingly
requests of the American government
that it communicate to the German
government the material which was
submitted for judgment, in order
that with this as basis further
position can be taken in the matter.
"The undersigned leaves it to the
ambassador to bring the foregoing to
the immediate attention Of his gov
ernment, and takes this opportunity
to renew the assurance of his most
| disting guished consideration"