The Tomahawk., 1915-06-03
AMERICAN STEAMER, DISABLED
OFF COAST OF IRELAND, AR
+. RivES At LIVERPOOL
BADLY DAMAGED.
SAW NO SUBMARINE, BUT
KNOWS WHAT HIT VESSEL
Submersibie Could Not have Failed to
See Name and Nationality Out
lined in Huge Letters, Says
Crew-Forward Part of
Ship Wrecked.

Liverpool, May 29.-The American
steamer Nebraskan which was dis.
abled by an explosion off the coast
of Ireland, arrived here shortly before
midnight. The captain said:
i saw no submarine, but am Ger.
tain 1t was a torpedo which hit US.
Moreover, submarine could not have
failed to see our name and national
ity, which was outlined in huge let
ters on our Sides"
The members Of the crew Of the
Nebraskan were agreed that the ex-
plosion was undoubtedly caused by a
torpedo.
The forward part of the ship is CON-
pletely wrecked.
Bulkhead's Strength Saves Ship.
The ship was saved from sinking
by the strength Of her No. 2 bulkhead,
which held back the flood and buoyed
up the ship. Considerable damage was
done to the deck and fittings. The
steamers derricks were blown away
by the force of the explosion.
Captain Greene of New York, cap
tain of the Nebraskan, told his story
of the damage to his ship:
1--WE left Liverpool Monday. The
next night, 4S miles off Fastnet at
1924 o'clock we were torpedoed. Only
lO minutes before we had hauled down
the American flag but it was quite
light and the submarine must have
seen the big white lettering on our
sides, which read 'Nebraskan Of New
York
Shock Injuries Three.
Il Was below at the time. There
was terrible shock, which threw
everybody off his feet. Immediately
afterwards came tremendous explos-
lon which slightly injured two quar-
termasters and the boatswain, hurled
the derricks 30 feet high and blew up
the matches.
THE ship rapidly filled with water
In the lower hold and commenced to
settle. We thought the ship was lost
and got into our four lifeboats. Two
armed British vessels came up in re-
ply to our distress signals.
LAS the vessel still floated we re-
turned on board and made a more
careful examination. We found the
No. bulkhead holding firm and de-
cided to remain aboard, and try to
bring the ship into Liverpool under
her own steam, which we accom-
plished successfully"
Page Cables Statement.
Washington, May 2S.-Ambassador
Page at London cabled the state de-
partment that Captain Greene of the
American steamship Nebraskan had
given the naval attache of the en-
bassy sworn statement at Liverpool
concerning the explosion on his ship
off the Irish coast Tuesday and that
the attache was returned to London.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, formally presented a
memorandum to the state department,
stating that the mines laid by Ger
many were of such a character as
would become innocuous when de-
tached from their anchorages.
Steamer Torpetoed or Mined.
London, May 27.-The American
steamer Nebraskan, Captain Green,
from Liverpool May "a for Delaware
breakwater, was torpedoed or mined
at a point 40 miles west-southwest Of
Eastnet, off the south coast of Ire.
land.
Yhe sea was calm at the time. The
crew at once took to the boats and
stood by the steamer. The foreholds
OF the vessel are full of water.
The foregoing information was re-.
ceived by the British admiralty and
at once communicated to the Ameri-
can embassy.
Immediately it was struck, the Ne.
braskan began calling for help by
wireless. Browhead received the
wireless communication at 9 a. m.
from Crookhaven.
Surprise to Officials.
The torpedoing or mining of the
Nebraskan was surprise to American
officials here. All foreign vessels
leaving Liverpool recently have had
their names and nationalities painted
in large letters on their sides and have
flown large flags. -