Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-22
Steamer Evelyn, With Cargo Of
Cotton, Goes Down, but
Crew of Vessel Is Saved,
According 10 Report,
MINE is BELIEVED TO
HAVE DONE THE DAMAGE
Thorough Investigation Of Dis
aSter Ordered by Washing
ton Authorities Through
Diplomatic Channels.

No0Hhlktuni fep. ll.--lne lnitvu
States government was advised off
oially tonight OF the first instance OF
destruction OF an American vessel on
the high seas since the outbreak OF
the European war. American Consul
Fee at Bremen cabled that the
steamer Evelyn aud her cargo of cot
ton bound for Bremen had been
blown up at Borkum" Just off the
coast of Germany, but that the crew
had been saved. The cause~-subma-
rine or mine--was not given in the
dispatch.
After q conference with President
Wilson, Secretary Bryan eabled Am
hassador Page at London and An.-
bassador Gerard at Berlin 10 make an
exhaustive inquiry az TO the fucts, and.
IL the crew WAS landed at either of
their respective jurisdictions, TO fur
nish every care and convenience to
Captain smith and his men so that
they might return home safely.
Sea Sowed With Mines.
While the extent OF sea zones or war
proclaimed by Germany was never de-
fined exactly. the Borltum islands are
considered far distant from the dan
ger areas OF submarines, although the
waters OF that vicinity are filled with
iHitl'c lNT u'ltifciNt DuiHN1tC ttifpuhiA
which Germany always has plloted
incoming ships. At the German cnas
bassy tonight. Il was poirt0d out that
the accident must have Been caused
by mine as Germany, sorely In need
Of cotton. would have no ts3et, q
| tOrpedoing vessel laden With suah
cargo for German consumption.
Early press dispatches ~ =. Her-
lin announcing the loss of Tho vessti
by Il mine caused somewhat OF SEN
sation In this capital where the ten-
sion has been more or less pronounced
over the situation in the war zones
since the dispatch Of warning notes by
tho United States 10 both Great BRIT
tain and Germany. II was conceded
informally that IL the cause of the ae-
cident was a mine, there probably
would be no ground for diplomats
action by the United States, as tho
laying of mines Is not prohibited by
any international convention now IN
force.
Consul Fees CabIcgram.
American Consul Fee's cablegraln.
forwarded from Bremen through the
American consul general at Rotter-
dam, Holland. gave the state depart
ment meager information. 1t said:
"St taamer Evelyn, Captain Smith,
agents Bull & Co., New York. blown
up early Friday at Borkum. Crew
saved. Ship and cargo lost
Earlier today Il had been practi-
dAly decided by tbs Washington gov
ernment 10 make no reply either 10
the British or German notes concern
ing the use of neutral ensigns or pos
slble attacks by submarines on neu-
tral vessels In the new sea zones OF
war. This was taken 10 imply that
the strong warning sent 10 both Great
Britain and Germany might now be
followed by a crisis in the relations
Of this government with the belllger-
onts II through their practices Amerl-
can vessels or lives were lost
No American Protest,
While mines have been laid In bell
ligerent waters since the carly davs
OF the war, American vessels hereto
fore have not suffered any injury
Many other neutral craft have been
destroyed, but the practical lmpossi-
bility of fixing the blame for acei-
dents Of that Kind has prevented the
interested governments from taking
diplomatic action. When The North
sea was first mined, some OF the netl-
tral countries protested to both Ger
many and Great Britain, but the
United states took tile position that
It was impossible to determine which
country had been the aggressor and
therefore made no protest, though II
does not consider It's rights in any
way compromised By this silence.
Diplomaticully the United states
and neutrala generally are helpless
as far as obtaining redress for the
loss OF their ships by contact with
oh ittf
proof. rare occurrence, could be adj
duced TO show the nationality of the
mines, that no pilot was available or
that the mines. drifting from their
anchorage were far distant from bell
l.gerent areas
Effort 10 Prevent Mine Laying.
Efforts have been made from time to
time 10 obtain an agreement among
the nations OF the world to prohibit
the laying OF mines. Enslund took
tho lead in this connection AZ the see-
ond Hague conferences In 1907 and q
finally was drafted and
ratified by the United states and
Great Britain and only a few OF the
other nations, though II never became
effective Under its terms u was for
hidden to lay unauehOred automatic
contact mines except when SO con-
-tfurteu as 10 ptcollg hdihioeS WY
hour at most after the person wh9
laid them ceases TO control them
il was forbidden 20 lay an
ahored mines which do not become
harmless when breaking loose from
their moorinss. The convention also
provided;
at is forbidden to lay automatic
contact mines off the coast and porss
If an enemy. with the solo object q
commercial shipping.
When anchored automatic CON
tact mines are employed. every pos
sibie precaution must be taken for the
of peaceful shipping
PIraseology Too Weak.
These articles We're critlcized De-