Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1915-02-26
STEAMER EVELYN BOUND FOR
BREMEN IS BLOWN UP OFF
COAST OF GERMANY
CREW SAVED.
SUBMARINE OR MINE
IS BELIEVED CAUSE
Secretary Bryan lnstructs Ambassa-
dor Page at London and Ambas-
sador Gerard at Berlin to
Make Exhaustive inquiry
AS to the Facts.

Washington, Feb. 23.-The United
States government has been officially
advised Of the destruction Of the first
American vessel on the high seas since
the outbreak of the European war.
American Consul Fee at Bremen
cabled that the steamer Evelyn and
her cargo Of cotton bound for Bremen
had been blown up at BOrkum" just
Off the coast Of Germany, but that the
crew had been saved. The cause
submarine or mine-was not given in
the dispatch.
After a conference with President
Wilson, Secretary Bryan cabled Am
bassadOr Page at London, and Am
bassador Gerard at Berlin to make an
exhaustive inquiry as to the facts,
and il the crew was landed at either
of their respective jurisdictions to fur
nish every care and convenience to
Captain Smith and the men, so that
they might return home safely.
Zones Not Exactly Defined.
Although the extent of the sea
zones of war proclaimed by Germany
was never defined exactly, the BOrkum
islands are considered far distant from
the danger areas of submarines, al
though the waters of that vicinity are
filled with mines for defensive pur-
poses, through which Germany always
has plotted incoming ships. At the
German embassy it was pointed out
that the accident must have been
caused by a mine, as Germany, sorely.
IN need Of cotton, would have no OBJ
ject in tOpedoing a vessel laden with
such cargo for German consumption.
Early press dispatches from Berlin,
announcing the loss of the vessel by a
mine, caused somewhat of a sensation
in this capital, where the tension has
been more or less pronounced over
the situation in the war zones since
the dispatch Of warning notes by the
United States to both Great Britain
and Germany. 1t was practically con-
ceded that if the cause of the accident
was proved to be a mine, there prob
ably would be no ground for diplo-
the laying Of mines is not prohibited
by any international convention now
in force.
American Consul Cables.
American Consul Fees cablegram,
forwarded from Bremen through the
American consul general at ROtter-
dam, Holland, gave the State depart
ment meager information. 1t said:
Steamer Evelyn, Captain Smith,
agents Bull & Company, New York,
blown up at Borkum. Crew saved.
Ship and cargo lost"
Secretary Bryan repeated the Amer
lean consul's telegram Immediately to
Ambassador Page at London and Am
bassador Gerard at Berlin, with in.
structions to learn all possible facts
concerning the occurrence and give
every care to the crew if landed in
their respective jurisdictions.
1t was generally taken for granted
that the vessel was blown up by a
mine, but the omission of any mention
Of cause introduced an element OF
speculation.
1t practically had been decided by
the Washington government to make
no reply either to the British or Ger
man notes concerning the use of neu-
trail ensigns, or possible attacks by
submarines on neutral vessels in the
new sea zone of war.
Added significance was attached
generally to this policy because of the
implication that the strong warning
sent to both Great Britain and Ger.
many might now be followed by
crisis in the relations Of this govern
ment with the belligerent if, through
their practices, American vessels or
lives were lost