Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-18

----'-
| by tho submarine. She even signalled
the Germans asking II she might sue
cor tho Nicosinn's crew.
Tho anidavits state that tho sub
marine sank almost Immediately after
tho Baralong opened fire, and that
some fifteen member OF tho crew were
killed while they threshed about in
the water. or after they had sought
refuge and surrendered aboard tho
Nicosian.
After that" say the dispositions,
tho crow of the Baralong opened n
bottle Of whisky to celebrate the sink
ing Of the submarine"
EACH OF DEPONENTs
ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS
German officials tonight stated that
each OF the deponents was an American
citizen. They Expressed hope that the
niiidavits would be made n subject OF
thorough investigation by the United
States.
Among the authors Of the depositions
Is Larlmorc Holland. who claims TO be
a member of the crew OF the Baralong,
and who now lives at Chattanooga,
Tenn. Others are James C. Curran, OF
1903 sheridan Road, Chicago: Edward
Clark and Bud Anderson Palen, of 235
Division street. Detroit, and II. IL.
Cosby and Charles ID. Highlowcr, of
Crystal City, Texas
The Holland affidavit says in part:
After training four weeks In the
Royal Barracks, the aiilant was as
signed to the Iron Duke. Admiral Jclli-
Goes flagship. on which he served AZ
stokcr for sixteen days
Inch the Iron Duke came to Ports
mouth and the aiiiant was shifted TO tho
cruiser Victory, where he served until
about August Is. His next berth va.
not know Later he was told that q
was called the Baralong. 1t seemed TO
DC an old merchant vessel, disguised
ana carrying arms. but commanded nv
naval officer.
Tho aniant shipped aboard this ves
SCI on the morning OF the 18th. and 4,
the afternoon wireless message ,y,s
received to the effect that 4 German
submarine had sunk the Arabic and
was attacking the NicOsian Tho crew
or the BaralonE had been instructed to
take Off their uniforms and wear ciyil
ian clothes before the boat sailed.
BAHALONG WAS FLYING
TIE AMERICA FLAG
In response TO the wireless mes
sage. the Baralong went to the rcscuo
and fortunately succeeded In locating
the Nlcosian. which was approached
from the north. The Baralong was
nying the American flag, which had
town TO the rescue
me submarine was on the far sido
or the Nicosinn from the Baralong The
Baralongs sirnalman asked if no
might pick up tho lifchoats, and be-
fore any reply was received the Barn
iohg mancuvcrcd slightly and came
partially out from behind the Nicosian
IN this position a;.iant could plainly
see the submarine lying above the sur
face Of the water
ne Baralongs captain commanded
tho chief gunner TO fire. and three
shots were fred by the Baralong at the
German submarine. The first shot took
OFF the pcriscope. The second shot hit
about fifteen feet in the water before
IL reached the submarine. The third
shot mt the gas tank. which cxplod-
ed. and the submarine sank
I'm the meantime the crew on the
submarine, after the second shot, be-
gan to jump into the water. There
were about fifteen of them and they
began to swim to the Nicosian. When
they were in the water the Baralong
gunner shellcd them, by order of the
commander. with fifteen pound shells.
The crew also fired rifles at the Ger
mans.
From the best that afiant could see.
several OF the crew OF the submarine
were killed, while in the water. Others
were killed while attempting to climb
up the ropes which had been thrown to
them from the Nicosian. Ai!iant gives
II as his Judgment that three or four
others were killed while they were on
these ropes. Some of the Baralong's
shots even hit the side Of the Nicosian
COMMANDER or SUBMARINE
ONLY ONE. TO REACH DECK
only one of the crew reached the
deck. This man, the afiant afterwards
learned. was the commander OF tho
submarine.
The way in which the ariant
learned this was as follows:
After firing was over the afiiant.
together with about twenty others OF
his crew, boarded tho Nicosian and
gathered from the conversation and
from the uniform OF the only one Of the
crew who had escaped that he was the
commander OF the submarine.
After our crew had boarded the
Nicosian, we found only one Of the
crew of the submarine who had es-
capped on the deck. and as stated.
found him to be the commander OF
the submarine. The Raralong's cap
tain and others OF the crew asked him
man submarines. He refused TO give
such Information. He was also asked
If his submarine had sunk the Arabic.
Afiiant does not remember certainly
his reply.
He was then commanded TO stand
back and hold up his hands. He asked,
as he complied. what. for you 10
shoot?
"One OF the Baralong's marines.
known as the engineer. fired the shot
from his pistol into the body Of the
German commander. He fell upon the
deck on his face.
The Baralongs crew. after ascer-
tanning that he was dead. picked him
up and threw his body overheard.
after this the commander OF the
Baralong. who had been on the deck
of the Nicosian. saluted the comman-
der of that ship and asked him what
damage had been done to his ship.
The Nicosian commander replied that
No. hatchway was full of water.
After this the Baralong took about
twenty five of the crew of the Nicosian