Evening star., 1915-05-27
FAIL TO ASCERTAIN
WHAT HIT STEAMER
U. S. Representatives Unable
to Say Whether Torpedo or
Mine Struck Nebraskan.
AMERICAN FLAG DOWN
AT TIME OF EXPLOSION
Messages Received by State Depart.
ment From Ambassador Page and
Consul General Skinner.

Messages received by the state De-
partment today from Ambassador Page
and Consul General skinner at London
and Consul Frost at Queenstown failed
to say definitely whether the steamer
Nebraskan had been torpedoed or had
struck a mine
One of the dispatches said the Ne
braskan's American flag had been
hauled down five minutes before she
was struck, although her name was
painted on her sides in letters six feet
high.
The American naval attache at London
has been sent to Liverpool to examine the
NebraSkanS hull
Consul General SINNERS message fol-
lows:
Greene. master Of American steamer
Nebraskan. in wireless addressed to me
via London reports:
Message From Capt. Greene.
'Nebraskan passed Fastnet rock Tues
day 4:33 pm, from Liverpool bound for
Delaware breakwater. in ballast At 8 IA
pm. when steamer was about forty-eight
miles west half south from Fastnet she
experienced violent shock, followed In
stantly by terrific explosion, bursting
matches and throwing hatch beams, cargo
derricks and twisted iron into the air.
filling lower hold forward completely with
water. Crew Immediately took to boats
After standing by ship one hour re-
turned on board. and at 10 80 started for
sells sent by the British admiralty in an
swer to our wireless call. One has been
in attendance ever since
1T was dusk when the explosion oc-
CURED. Flag had been hauled down
five minutes before. Steamers name
painted on both sides Of the ship in
letters six feet tall. Had no warning
and saw nothing"
Ambassador Page sent the following
message:
Queenstown that the Nebraskan is now
on her way to Liverpool under her own
steam and Is being escorted. ] am
sending naval attache to Liverpool to
examine the ship. which. it now ap-
pears, was outward bound from Liver
pool to Delaware breakwater when she
was torpedoed."
Dispatches Before the President.
As soon as the dispatches were re-
ceived at the State Department they
were forwarded to the White House
and Immediately placed before Presi-
dent Wilson. AS they did not make it
certain whether the steamer had been
hit by a mine or torpedo they left
unanswered the principal point that
the President and his advisers want
made clear. They expect further re-
ports from the naval attache. Pending
receipt of clearer explanations, no ac-
tion will be taken.
E. H Duff, counsel for the company
Ayat kal
with the New York offices today and
later. at the State Department. said
the circumstances of the affair, partic-
ularly the damage to the bow of the
Nebraskan. Indicated to him that the
vessel struck a mine. The steamship
officials with whom he talked in New
York had the same view, although they
had very little Information. He said
that no steps SO far had been taken
with view to protest or representa-
tions.
President Wilson himself read all the
official and unofficial dispatches In
view of the position which the United
submarine activity in the war zone
and the delicacy of the situation with
Germany arising out of the Lusitania
disaster, the story of the Nebraskan's
experience is awaited with unusual in
terest. Should it develop clearly that
she was torpedoed without warning, an
aggravating circumstance will have
been added to an already tense situa-
tion Notwithstanding the fact that no
lives were lost.
Germany, in a circular note to neu-
trail governments. May IL. announced
that regret would be expressed and
payment Of damages made, without
prize court proceedings, for all neutral
vessels attacked by mistake in the war
zone. The United States. in it's note
of May 13, pointed out that "expres-
sions Of regret and offers of reparation
in case of the destruction of neutral
ships sunk by mistake, while they may
satisfy international obligations. If no
excuse a practice the natural and
necessary effect of which is to subject
neutral nations and neutral persons to
new and Unreasonable risks"
Officials Are Reticent.
Officials here were unwilling TO dis
cuss the case, pending full reports.
Counselor of the State Department
Lansing revealed, however. that as
surances had some time ago been re-
ceived from Great Britain to the effect
that such mines as had been laid by
the British admiralty were of a nature
tached from their anchorage No other
government. Mr.. Lansing said, had
given similar assurances.
The .United States has never been
able to fix responsibility for the acci-
dents to the American cotton ships
Carib and Evelyn, and naval officers
say it will be a difficult task to de-
from an examination of the
Nebra askan's hull whether mine or
torpedo struck her. An investigation.
will be ordered when the
ship reaches port. A similar inquiry
was made by naval attaches of the
American embassy when the American
steamer Gulfight reached port, and it
was determined that a German sub
marine was responsible. There have
been intimations since then, however.
that Germany in her reply would deny