The Washington times., 1915-05-04
STRUCK BY TORPEDO,
SAYS CHIEF OFFICER
Gulflight Owners Send Report to
State Department Of Attack
on American Vessel.
Continued from First Pase)

CONTINUED from First Paseo
living the version of the commander o,
he submarine as to the circumsuance'
At the same time instructions have
,een sent to Consul Stephens, a
Plymouth to make a full inquiry.
The important thing Is whether 1t car
,e definitely established that Ger
nan submarine torpedoed the Gulfligh
the attack as mistake
Wherein the American vessel was re
yarded as British.
Text of Messages.
The text of the messages forwarded
by the Gulf Refining Company wer'
in the following dispatch t
he State Department from New YORK:
"A cable has been received from
Chief officer Smith of steamship
Gulf1ight. dated Scilly, May 2. read
ing as follows:
''Gulfiight summarized Saturday.
Patrol boats standing by. will prob
ably salve. Operator Short. Sea-
man Chapenta drowned; captain
died today heart failure, body land
ed Scilly. American consul protect
ing interests"
A further cable has been received,
dated Scilly, May 2, from the Ameri-
can consul. reading:
"Gulfiight towed into Scilly."
A further cable has been received
about midday today from Chief Off
Ger Smith, reading as follows:
Advise Immediately disposal cap
tain's remains; crew gone. PenZance
Butterworth, chief engineer. myself
standing by anchored. Scilly tugs
here will tow English port naval au-
thorities charge"
Valued At 100000.
This steamer Is the property Of
the Gulf Refining Company, Texas
corporation having business offices
in Pittsburgh. Pa. She was bound
on a voyage from Port Arthur. Tex,
to Reuen. France, with a cargo of
gasolene consigned to the Compagnis
Industrielle des Petroles.
AT Rouen, France, the company
has no knowledge or information in
dicating that the gasolene was in
tended for other than private con-
sumption. The Gulf Light was built
by the New York Shipbuilding Com
service August 80. 1914. The steam
er Is Of 5.lSs gross tons. American
register and her present sound value
Is about 100000. Her pending
freight was S9S.55057.
Capt. Alfred Gunter. who died in
consequence of the accident. was an
American citizen resident at Bay
onne. N. j., and is survived by his
widow. Short, the wireless operator.
who was drowned, was an American
citizen, resident in Chicago, and gave
his mother who resides in Chicago
as his next of kin. Chapenta, sea-
man, who was drowned, hailed from
Porth Arthur. Tex. Inquiries are be-
Ing made as to his nationality"
The Thresher Case.
The State Department has been ei
gagged for some time In getting tt
facts in the case Of. Leon c. Threshe
the American citizen, who lost his III
in the summarizing OF the Falaba.
was expected that a note on this sui
just would have gone to Berlin befoi
this. But the Governments purpose. {
indicated, Is to treat as a whole II
issue raised by submarine attacks
which American life and property a.
In disregard of recognize
law.
his W d NlSoIouS III
sentation of the case to Berlin than
the cases were treated separately. ar
is conceded as evidence that officia
look on the recent German actions ar
statements relative to attacks on ne,
trail shipping as cumulative.
Hit Without Warning.
The more detailed news reports ind
cate the Gulflight was struck witho'
in the middle of the day. at
time when she could be plainly see
No chance was given the crew to e
cape. Nothing about the affair, II Il
news dispatches are borne out by offici
bears the earmark Of acc
dent.
Moreover, marked attention Is call'
to the fact that German submarines a
showing increased activity in strikii
at the vessels of neutral nations, ind
eating. say, observers here, that Ame
lean vessels are to be made victim
along with Norwegian, Swedish, al
other neutrals.
The list of neutral vessels which ha'
been sent to the bottom by submarin
as contained in today's dispatches
giving uneasiness to the Administr
ton and to the State Department.
Indications today are that the Unit,
States, following official investigate
cover loss of the Gulflight and compe
sation to the families of the three vi
Tins of the attack. Expression of r
gret may also be requested.
In some quarters, the view is held tn
II Germany is responsible the Bcrl
government will lose no time in makil
amends. Such a course would help 4
situation materially. The German er
bassy, however, declines to make al
comment, and it Is by no means a ce
tainty that Berlin will show a dispos
tion to minimize the seriousness of Il
situation.
President Wilson continues to keep
close touch with the State Departme
on the case.
In order to get full light on all poin
of State Bryan has asked for repc
from Berlin through AmbasSad
Gerard and for an investigation by Il
consular officials. The testimony of t
surviving members OF the crew will
taken. Some days will probably clap
before the needed official informatiC
is at hand.
Expects Reply Today.
Consul Stephens probably will rep
to Secretary Bryan's message toda
giving more details of the torpedoing
the vessel. The consul, in his secol
message yesterday inferred that a Gle
man torpedo struck the ship, but I
word German" was deleted by the d
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