The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-07
BERLIN MAY DISAVOW
U-BOATS ACT
Germany Still Clings to the
Mine Theory, but Passen-
gers Say Liner Was Tor
Washington Now
Waits for All the Facts

| AHsLeiudHi, Dtpbs - ~6tAh'"h "ff'
disavow the attack on the Allan liner
lIesperian if England reports OF the cir
cumstances are fully corroborated by the
submarine commander, according to a
dispatch from Berlin yesterday.
Germany's explanation, the dispatch
stated. will be that if submarine tor
lpedoed the liner without warning it was
because the U-boat had left its base be-
| fore the new instructions were issued
| by the admiralty.
| Only a few brief bulletins from Dutch
sources have reached Berlin, the dis
patch said In the absence of more in
| formation German officials were report
ed to be extremely reticent, but they
were inclined to doubt the London re-
port that the Hesperian was torpedoed.
They said it was quite possible that the
| liner had encountered one of the mines
reported drifting off the southwest coast
| of Ireland
London, Sept. THE Allan line
steamship Hesperian sank at GAS yes.
terday morning within few miles OF
Queenstown, after Captain Main and
volunteer rescue crew of twenty hive
had made brace fihtght to bring the
crippled ship into port. During the
night the Hesperian settled gradually
by the head. Daylight showed the decks
awash and the liner about to take the
final plunge.
The captain and crew were taken off
by rescue boats and landed later in
Queenstown by the steamer Empress.
The sinking of the Hesperian in deep
water probably will prevent an inves-
tigation to determine whether the dis
aster resulted from submarines tor
pedo or from mine. Passengers and
crew assert positively that the vessel
was struck by torpedo, but thus far
no statement has been obtained from
any one who saw a submarine or tor
pedo.
The American embassy Is receiving
reports from Wesley Frost, American
consul at Queenstown, on the question
whether warning was given to the liner.
Persons so far seen by Mr.. Frost state
that no warning was given. Captain
Mains statement probably will be taken
later.
Mr.. Frost, the American consul, has
been unable to learn of more than two
Americans who were on the Hesperian,
both members of the crew, and both are
reported TO have been saved.
From stories told by survivors the
detailed account of the disaster is grad
ually being uniolded. Most of the pas
sengers say there is no doubt the az
tack was made by German submarine
and some of them say they heard the
lookout shout, Submarine on starboard
lauarter!" Thus far no statement has
been made by any survivor who saw the
submarine or a torpedo.
All agree the Hesperian was struck
on the starboard side. between the fore
mast and the bridge. Lifeboats were
launched in the darkness, but without
panic. The fourth and fifth boats were
lowered uneyenly and overturned, the oc-
cupants being thrown into the water.
Some OF them were injured.
A Chronicle dispatch from Queenstown
SAYS that Miss Carberry. an elderly pas
scnger. died from shock after being res
cued. and that another woman sue
cumbed, short time after being taken
aboard a rescue ship.
A woman in one Of the lifeboats
stopped a small leak by removing
stocking and stufing Il into the hole.
Three Sisters Of Mercy were among the
last 70 depart from the Hesperian. One
OF the passengers asserts that SIXTY per
sons were crowded into lifeboat having
= capacity Of forty.
Queenstown. sept. T-Wireless re-
ports received BY the Allan line state
that Capt. Main and the members u
the crew Of the Hesperian who remained
aboard we're taken on before the steam
r. foundercd.
The Queenstown agency II the Allan
line announced that forty five first class
passengers. rs secnnd-elsss passengers
had been accounted for and that 4 could
not say. AZ the present time, bow many
we're missing.
The number Of men n The crew vas
given a 2ss. Of whom 30 have heen
seeounfed fer. not Unfolding those who
remained on the Hssprrian until she
aaut down.
These figures, The agency ssTs, arr
arglror FnatalY currrrt-
About ag0a sasks 81 mail went down
Nth the Hesr<rian.
T1hs fs0irf 81 whict fhs vessel ssrk
!. - 49, fssa .-siss nar4 ~ Ctrfsssafrfrsassl