Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-03
First Official Report.

First Official Report.
The first official report of the tor
pedong Of the American tanker
reached the State Department late to-
day in an undated dispatch from Con-
sui Stephens at Plymouth, England.
saying the attack was made saturday.
but the vessel was still atioat and that
patrol boats were attempting 10 tow her
to the SciTy Islnds.
Consul Stephens message follows;
american tank steamer Gulaisht tor
pedoed off Scilly Islands 1st instant.
Captain died heart failure: body landed
Two of crew drowned; thirty-four saved
Vessel afioat, patrol boats attempting tow
her into Scilly."
Full Inquiry to Be Made.
On the face of the news dispatches
officials admit that the attack on the
ship is serious matter, but they In
tend that a very thorough investiga-
tion shall he made and that no hasty
action shall be taken.
Secretary Bryan said that thorough
inquiry would be made. but that before
official reports were received the
Washington government would MAKE
no comment.
Warning Given Germany.
In this connection administration Of
ficials pointed today with considerable
concern to the paragraph of warning
sent by the United States to Germany
February II, week after Germany
had declared naval war zone about
Great Britain. to begin February j..
The warning was as follows:
IF the commanders of German
vessels of war shouiu act upon the
presumption that the flag of the
United tSateS was not being used In
good faith and should destroy
the high seas an American vessel, or
the lives Of American citizens, II
would be difficult for the govern
ment of the United States to view
the act in any other light than ns
an indefensiple violation Of neutral
rights, which it would be very hard
indeed reconcile with the friendly
relations now happily subsisting be
tween the two governments.
If such deplorable situation
should arise the imperial German
government readily appreciat.
that the government of the United
States would be constrained to hold
the imperial German government to
strict accountability of such acts
of their naval authorities and take
any steps it might be necessary to
take to safeguard American lives
and property and TO secure to Amer
lean citizens the full enjoyment of
their acknowledged rights on the
high seas.
Embassy Without News.
Count Bernstorff, the German amhas-
sador. said he had received no inforna-
tion other than the news dispatches.
and in the absence of any word from
RaI-1in he declined
The reported attack on the Gulfisht
continued today to arouse official
Washington. AS viewed here the oc-
curreuce is regarded as a very serious
matter, and as one calling for some
kind of representations to be made to
the German government by the United
States.
In official circles 1t was thought that
the inquiry probably would disclose
the fact that the attack on the Amer
lean vessel was accident and not
deliberate In that event il was con-
sidered likely that no action would be
taken by the American government be-
yond a demand for damages.
To Fix Responsibility.
The inquiry. which will be nlada
through American diplomatic channels.
will be directed with view to ascer-
tanning the manner of the torpedoing
of the Gulfight and to fixing the re-
sponsibility for the attack. 1t is be-
lieved that several days will be- re-
quired to complete the investigation.
III first reports are borne out the al
tack on the Gul1ii ght constitutes the
first case of an American ship struck
by a torpedo with the consequent loss
of lives Two American vessels have
been sunk by mines, the responsibility
for which never has been fixed, and
one American, Leon c. Thresher, was
drowned when the British ship Falaba
was torpedoed.
Other Neutral Ships Sunk.
In diplomatic quarters the attack on
the Gultiight recalled similar expert
ences of other neutral craft with Ger
man submarine A Norwegian and a
Dutch steamer were torpedoed recently:
but so far as could be recalled by Off
cialS here no lives We're lost. In these
cases the German government, besides
promising to pay damages for the ves-
sells destroyed, expressed its regret at
the occurrences.
When the German war zone deere.
was first issued, most of the neutral
governments made representations
similar to those of the United States
The Scandinavian countries and Hol-
land. laid emphasis the fact that
they would demand a financial account
ability for any losses. The language of
the American note which said Germany
would be held to a strict accountable
ltv' has never been interpreted by high
officials here.
The government war risk bureau car
ried no insurance on the GulhiGht on
the last voyage of that ship. although
on the preceding trip from American
ports to Europe the steamers huh was
insured for S425,aoa with the burean.
il was stated by William e. De Lana
director Of the bureau