The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-12-09
US. SHIP ISISUNK
YANKEE WOUNDED
OIL STEAMER SUNK BY sUBMA.
RINE IN MEDITERRANEAN.
ANOTHER FLEES FROM DIVER
American Steamer PetroIite Escapes
After Being Shelled by Austrian
craft-Washlnato Gives Re-
call Reason to Berlin.

sinking in the Mediterranean of tho
American ship Communipaw, a
Standard Oil ship with possible loss
of Americans, and threatens interna-
tional complications.
The state department will spend all
efforts to find out the nationality OF
the submarine While officials be-
llieve it to be Austrian, it will not be
known on account of delayed decis-
ions.
That the American nationality of
the Communipaw was known to the
attacking submarine, was declared
conservative as like all other Stand
ard Oil ships it had the American
flag painted on both sides of her hull.
The operation of Austrians in the
vicinity of the Communipaw attack
caused conviction that the first rep
Presentations will be made to Austria
and this was strengthened by a re-
port from the United States gunboat
Des MONIES of an attack by Austrian
submarines upon the Standard Oil
ship Petrolite.
The state and naval departments
! rushed orders to representatives
abroad for a complete report on both
incidents.
Meager information intimates that
the Petrolite attempted to escape. If
the Petrolite was duly warned it is
possible no protest will be made.
Pending the report by Ambassador
Page at Rome, the administration will
suspend judgment and action regard
ing the Communipaw. That delay
will be encountered in obtaining in
formation is expected.
Although the Communipaw was the
German steamship Deutchland and
was only transferred to American
registration last spring, officials de-
= clare the fullest protection OF the
government is due her. Claims for
damages is the least important of the
questions presented
Oil Steamer Sunk.
\ Rome, Dec. 8.-The American oil
steamer Communipaw has been sunk
by submarine in the Mediterranean,
near Tobruk, Tripoli. No information
has been received concerning the crew
or the nationality of the submarine.
Only Wreckage Found.
London, Dec. S.-The Athens CORE
Bpondent of the Daily News tele-
graphs that the Athens wireless sta
ton received an S. o. S. call from an
American ship that had been torpe-
decd The government sent torpedo
boat to the rescue, but by the time the
war vessel arrived only the wreckage
of the ship could be found
This is the second American steam
hxy ,hVno Fin in
+ Mediterranean in less than a week.
Another Ship Fired On.
Washington, Dec. S.-Differences be-
; tween the United States and the two
! central empires of Europe were in
tensified by the following incidents:
/ Cruiser Des Moines reported an
0 Austrian submarine had fired on an
n American ship, Petrolite, in the Medi'
i terranean, wounding one man aboard
i Secretary Lansing of the state de-
:, partment replied to Germany's request
for Americas reasons asking the re
: call of Captains Boyd and Won Pa
pen. The reply said merely each at
}, tache was persona non grata because
l. Of his naval and military activities.
Il The dispatch from the Des Moines
, came from Canea. Crete, and reported
that the following wireless message
O was picked up Sunday:
IS American steamship Petrolite. Al
IS exandria to IJew York, attacked b!
If a submarine Sunday morning at 6:20
/ longitude 1925 north, latitude &c.,
IS west One man not seriously in
D. jured."
U. S. Awaits More Facts.
The commander of the cruiser salt
A he had obtained from the commando
" of the Petrolite the additional infoI
nation that the submarine which al
,e tackled tho American steamer few tn
Austrian flag and looked like bi
cruiser" The man who was wound
H. ed was struck by fragment of a
IN explosive shell fred from the submt
a. rine. The attack took place about 35
Vi miles west of Alexandria and off tn
h. western end of the Island of Crete.
a The navy department transmitte
or the report to the state department
where II was said nothing could !
at done until further facts were supple,
ny It was inferred from the dispatch this
al the Petrolite had been fred on du
"a ing a successful attempt to escap
" II her captain disregarded deman
to submit to search there probab
will be no attempt to make dipl
sa- matte incident of the case.
of Secretary Daniels said he had N
or, instructed the commander of the d.
ng Moines to make any further inves
~ CATION. II is assumed that no mo
~ wiz be heard from the Petfolite u
& til she arrives at Gibraltar. 4