New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-03
BRITISH PRISON
HOLDS SECRET OF
ARABIC SINKING
Double Grew" on Capt
ured Raider, Say Re-
turning Americans.
U-BOAT SURPRISED:
SURRENDER FORCED
TraWler Overhauled Submarine
Early on Day After Liner
Was TOrpedOed.

The inability Of Germany TO pro luce
the commander of the submarine that
sank the Arabic. or get a report from
him or any member Of his double
crew." was no surprise to passengers
on the White Star liner Adriatic.
which arrived here yesterday.
Germany can learn nothing of the
circumstances Of the torpedoing Of the
Arabic. because the commander and
such members of his crew who have
not been drowned are prisoners some-
where in the British Isles. This is
/ the unconfirmed report current IN Eng
J land when the Adriatic left Liverpool,
and the news of which has been with
held from America b. rigid censor
ship.
Travellers on the Adratic and the
American liner st. Paul. which also
arrived yesterday from Liverpool, were
anxious to know If details concerning
the submarines fate had reached this
country. Both vessels had survivors
cf the Arabic on board. and 70 them
especially was the news gratifying that
the German destroy ers had been taken
olive.
"Arabic's Foe Captured"
Just when the Arabic's enemy was
: overhauled is not known. but it is gen
erallv believed that she was surprised
at dawn on the day following the dis
aster, while she was riding high. A
thirty-knot destroyer is said to have
done the Job by gunfre, which go dam
aged The German undersea craft that
she was unable to submerge and vas
otherwise rendered useless. Unable TO
dror below the surface, she was quick
lv surrounded ard boarded. and those
Of the crew. including the commander.
who did not jump were forced to sur
render
The submarine. it was said, was
taken to the Irish coast. at the end OF
a long tow line. while her officers and
men were made prisoners aboard a
trawler. The landing was attended with
great secrecy. and as no vessels other
than those Of the Admiralty were at
hand the extraordinary capture was
kept secret for almost week.
Probably the most interesting feat
ure Of the capture which lends ere
dence TO the rumor was the report
/ that the British naval authorities
found that the submarine had on beard
q double crew. Just why the craft
should have twice the number OF men
necessary to manipulate "A vessel OF
her type is matter of conjecture,
Lut il was the prevailing opin on ves-
terday cn the Adriatic that the extra
men were taken from submarine that
had been damaged b. the enemy; aban-
doned through defective mechanism; or
had become entangled in the nets set
by The British Admiralty for the capt
ure Of underses craft.
Double Crew on Submarine.
The story of the capture was com
mon gossip on board the Adriatic. and
those who professed TO have inside IN
formal. on. frequently remarked. Find
out in London about the double crew.
Several of the ships officers when
asked il the submarine that sank the
Arabic had been captured merely
smiled and declared that the Admiral
tv was not making public what II had
ACCOMPLISHED. Regarding the double
crew reported TO have been found on
board the submarine. they remarked
that one submarine that was over
hauled did have q double crew.
Another version of the capture OF
the Arabic's destroyer was that II had
been taken through the strategy OF the
master of a British steamship inter
cepted near the Lizard two DAYS after
the White Star liner was sent 20 the
bottom.
The submarine. il was said. was in
reed of food and fuel and unable to
return to ITS base Hailing the steam
+ shin. which was westbound and in bal
/ last the Germans sIgnalled that they
,-onted food and petrol. A promise o.
freedom was offered on condition that
/ food be sent out promptly, and the
British commander acqulesced. lie
lowered boat and iockeyed his ves-
sci for some time on the preteNt that
lie was afraid of dropping down on
the submarine and damaging ter. by
the time the provisions were put into
the lifeboat and under way smaH
but fast converted yacht bore dowr
upon the submarine, and opening hre
upor her at mile range disabled her
so that she was neither able ., fire
torpedo at the freighter nor submerge
herself.
Whatever may be the foundation for
/ the abundance Of rumor, the passen-
GERS were confident yesterday that the
German government would not rear
from the Arabic's destroyer until the
british Admralts had wrunC the truth
fror the officers and men. who are
row believed to be prisoners OF war in
England.