The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-22
Confirmed BY Consul,

Washington, Feb. 2l.--Confrmat,o,
of reports Of the destruction OF tn
American steamship Evelyn. of thu
German coast, presumably by 4 mine,
was received by Secretary Of Stats
Bryan tonight. Consul w. T. Fee.
at Bremen. Germany. to which the
Evelyn was bound with q cargo OF
to the State Department:
Steamer Evelyn, Captain Smith.
agents Bull h Co.. New York. blown
up early Friday At Horkun1. Crew
saved Ship and cargo lost"
r. Secretary Bryan hxd this mesaage
repeated 70 the American en1basstee
let London and Berlin. with instruc-
tons that every possible, care Do
taken of the crew and to ASCERTAIN
and report 10 Washington all the
facts ohra!nahie in the case.
Germany Blamclcss.
That no serious blame can be AZ
tached to the German Government
for this, the first disaster to an Arnerf-
can ship. was the conclusion reached
here tonight, based upon Consul Fees
Sitspatc4l. Borkum is one of chain
of islands southwest OF the mouth OF
the Wescr River. on which is the
port Of Bremen. These islands are
strongly fortified and form part OF
the coast defenses and naval bases
OF Germany in connection with Will
helnshavea.
The islands themselves. and ada.
cent waters up to the distance OF
three miles seaward, are within tho
territorial Jurisdiction OF Germany,
within wi,;cn she is entitled to lay a.
MANY mines as she pleases Tor tho
defense of her harhors.
The harbors OF all the eeiligerants
are understood to have been mined. ann
the maritime world, has been informed
under what conditions tho ports OF
these countries may be entered by rner-
chant yessets only In case snip-
ming has not beanvnotined that har-
Dor has been mined by the government
controlling 1t can tho governments
which laid the mines be neid respoh-
sible for disaster to shipping as re-
suit of these mines. The German gov
erument has issued many announces
mauts of rules and regulations for en-
terinr German mined harbors since the
war began. some OF which have nesn
forwarded to the State Department here
These rules generally include direc-
lions as to taking on pilots and stats
precisely just how vessels shall be nav
iueted in entering such territorial Wa.
ters.
waiting For Statement.
The abatement or Captain SNttn. OF
the EVELYN. as TO what course he took
nrior to the destruction OF hts vessel
is awaited here with great interest
officials are anxious to learn whether
or not he had received any notice re-
gardinK the mining of the territorial
waters In the vicinity OF Borkuui u
is surrn!sed here that the Evelyn used
the English Channel route. passed
through the war zone. and then pre-
sumably went along the safe strip or
thirty miles of the Dutch coast Tho
chain OF islands OF which Borkum II
one Is owned partly by Holland ana
partly by Germany, and the naturai
course up the coast OF Holland would
take a vessel by them all.
should IL develop that no notice had
been given by Germany of the minin1
of the waters. and that no precau-
tionary measures for giving neutraIs
safe passage through these waters had
been taken, claims for damages VIII IL
against Germany.
In view OF the fact that Germany
in eager for the neutral shipping ito
enter her ports with supplies much
needed in that eountry. ii is regarded
as incredible that the approaches -
German ports should have been made
dangerous without adequate precau-
lions having been taken to safeguard
shipplug. This il regarded as particu-
larry true In the case OF the Evelyn
and her cotton cargo. as there IL great
demand for cotton In Bremen, where Il
Is bringing high prices.