The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-07-09
AMERICANS PERISH
ON TORPEDOED SHIP
NINETEEN DROWN WHEN GER
MAN SUBMARINE SINKS
DOMINION STEAMER.
CASE LIKELY TO BE SERIOUS
May Have Far-reaching Effect On
Discussion Now in Progress Be-
tween United States and Ger
many On Submarine Issue.

Washington, July 1.-THE calm OF
official Washington of the, last few
DAYS was broken with the receipt OF
dispatches at the state department an
nouncing that the Dominion freight
liner. Armenian, flying the British flag
and CARRYING horses from Newport
News, Va, to Avenmouth, England,
had been torpedoed and sunk by Ger
man submarine U-3S. According 10
the reports of John S. Armstrong. Jr-,
consul at Bristol, England, where the
survivors have been landed, 10 Ameri-
cans, most, if not all, of them negroes,
are missing and it is supposed they
have been drowned. In all, 20 men
were lost and 10 injured,
From the messages received, it ap-
pears that in addition to- the torpedo,
at least one shot was fred from a dis
appearing rifle. The consuls report
said that the wireless house was
taken by a second shot.
Submarine Makes Attack
1t was not made clear whether the
Armenian was first ordered to halt
and resisted capture, requiring sec
ond shot, whether the submarine
attacked without warning. The fact
that the number of the submarine |
was given indicated that she had come |
to the surface to make the attack.
This is the first case of loss OF |
American lives since the sinking OF
the Lusitania and is attracting wide
attention about the capital. Officials,
however, declined to express any opin-
ion in the case in advance OF the re-
ceipt of complete records from the
consul 1t was admitted though that
the case is likely to prove most ser
ious one and may have far-reach-
ing effect on the discussion now in
progress between the United States
and German governments on the sub
marine issue.
The state department has already
cabled Consul Armstrong for more de-
tails regarding the Armenian. 1t is
particularly desired to know whether
the Armenian was under charter to
the British government
Officials Make Inquiries.
officials also want to learn whether
the Armenian had guns and if she Of
fered resistance to the submarine.
They want to know too. if warning
was given before the attack, and if
the crew had an opportunity to take
refuge in the small boats. The CON
sul's reports thus far are silent on all
.hese points. AS for the Armenians
cargo of mules, it is, according to
al the list of the belligerents, contra
oand of war
1t is expected that the Germans
will claim, if it is proven that the Ar
nenian was under charter, that the
1essel was practically an auxiliary
transport of the British government,
carrying horses and mules for the use
# the army, and therefore properly
ubject to destruction on the high !
eas without notice. Officials here in
Heated that charter to a government /
oes not necessarily make vessel a. 1T
government ship in the true sense OIL t
he term, and that it is very doubtful b
{ the fact of a charter can be ac- t
epted as full justification in the case d
the Armenian. @
ase will arouse the popular indigna- t
ion caused by some other cases of Y
mericaDs being victims of German @
ubmarine attacks, it is pointed out F
nat regardless of public opinion the
Tnited States is already committed. Il
he notes which the President has t,
ent to Germany already cover such f
case as this. The President has c.
eclared that he expects Germany to n
ccept the rule that all other nations
ccept, and that it can not lawfully
r rightfully place in Jeopardy the
yes of non-combatants. of enemy or G
eutral citizenship, in the process of al
spturing merchantmen. 1t is be- G
eyed by many here that the Presi- b.
snt's declarations. leave him no til
lance but to make vigorous represen-
lions on this case. W
fix
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