The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-02-25
!. 5. ASKS FACTS
ON SHIPWRECK
Naval AttaChe Told to Report
Loss Of Evelyn.
NO DIPLOMATIC ACTION DUE
One Member of Crew Of American
Vessel Sunk by Mine Frozen to
Death--Norwesian Steamer
T.; Lost in War Zone.

Berlin, Germany, Feb. 30 via Lon
; don).-Latest reports concerning the
sinking OF the American steamship
Evelyn off Borkum island in the North
sea show that only one man of the
crew lost his life. This man was
frozen to, death in small boat after
the sinking of the steamer The
Evelyn, which sailed from New York.
January 20, with a cargo of cotton for
Bremen, struck two mines, but the
crew had time TO get into liteboats.
Some members OF the vessels crew
were taken by German ship to Hell
goland. while the others were landed
In Holland
.. Norwegian Ship Sunk.
London, England, Feb. 23.-The Nor.
wegian freight steamer Cuba, bound
from London to Rotterdam, was sunk
in a collision in the North sea. So far
as Is known no lives were lost. The
Cuba carried an official mailbag CT the
American commission for the relief
of Belgium.
y. S. Inquiry on Evelyn Wreck.
Washington. Feb. 20. - Secretary
Daniels ordered ComISlnder Walter r.
Gherardi, American naval attache at
Berlin, to investigate and make full
report on the destruction of the Amer.
lean steamer Evelyn off Borkum island
| near the German coast of the North
sea. So far official reports merely
i nave reported the sinking of the yes,
sci and its cargo, bat have given no
| details.
Secretary Daniels explained that his
purpose In directing an inquiry after
the state department had called upon
the ambassadors at London and Der.
lin for a report, was to obtain tech.
nical information, which perhaps might
| not be included IN the ambassadors
| replies. 1t was, of course. understood
that Commander Gherardi would be
! guided entirely by Ambassador Ger
ard in making his investigation.
Difficult to Get Details.
1t was said at the navy department
that from present indications it vii
be difficult for the naval officer to gel
exact information Of what actually de
stroyed the Evelyn. Unless Captain
| Smith or some of the members of the
| crew of the steamship actually saw
the coming tower or periscOpe of a
submarine, officials say, it would not
! be possible to deny that the Evelyn
was sunk by mine.
TbinLe
Chairman Stone of the senate for.
e1gn relations committee said he could
see no complications arising from the
destruction Of the Evelyn.
An American vessel" said the sen.
| ator, 'ventured into an area known
to be strewn with mines. and unfor.
tunately, struck one. SO far it is not
known what nation laid the mine. II
Is, probable that a. national claim for
damages might be made when all the
facts are established, but | cannot see
how serious complications could come
from the incident"
First Loss Under U. S. Insurance.
The Evelyn is the first ship insured
with the United States bureau of war
risk insurance to be lost since the
bureau began operations several
months ago. Insurance on ships and
cargoes amounting to more than $685.
0O0,0 900 has been written.
There is little doubt that legal proof
of the destruction of the ship and
cargo will result in prompt payment
of the insurance. OF the total amount
OF insurance written by the bureau
more than half has expired with the
arrival of ships and cargoes at des-
tinations. The bureau has earned in
premiums more than 100000, so that
1t is able to stand its first loss without
resort to the appropriation made by
congress.
Senator Simmons, one of the trainers
of the bill which created the war risk
bureau, was a White House caller.
He said he presumed an effort would
be made first to establish the RESPONSE
bility for the sinking of the Evelyn
and that II the nationality of the mine
could be discovered the government
war risk bureau would make efforts to
collect damages.
1t has been virtually decided by the
government to make no reply either
to the British or German notes.
Owners to Make No Protest.
New York, Feb. 23.-William l..
Harriss of Harriss, Irby & Vose, which
owned the steamship Evelyn, sunk in
the North sea, said that his firm would
make no protest to the state depart
ment, as he considered the loss of the
ship due to a war risk which he had
taken. Mr.. Harriss said that all Of
his companys ships were under orders
not to 60 through the English channel.
Troop Ship Not Sunk.
London, Feb. 23.-The official press
bureau issued an official denial of the
report sent from Berlin that British
army transport had been sunk by q
German submarine.