Evening star., 1915-06-05
ASKS FOR CLAIMS
IN GULFu|GHT CASE
Germany to Pay for Torpedo
ing American Ship Off
SciIIy Islands.
ASSURANCE GIVEN IN NOTE
FROM AMBASSADOR GERARD
Case Of the Cushing Not Yet Clear
ed Up. Kaiser's Foreign Of
flee Says.

AS announced in Yesterdays Sta.
Germany has agreed 20 pay DANA Ses
done by German submarine to the
American steamer Gulfight. torpedoed
oil the Scilly Islands This assurance
came in cablegram from Amba ssador
Gerard al Berlin to the state Depart
ment. transmitting note from the
German government.
The note was brief and stated that
the ship had been torpedoed by mis-
panied by British patrol boats she was
a belligerent vessel, and adding that
the commander did not see the .Ameri-
can flag until after the torpedo was
fired The communication agreed TO the
principle of indemnity, asking the
American government to present on
behalf of the owners the usual CAIN.
In the note also was an expression
of regret at tne occurrence. That IS
in conformity with the procedure
which Germany announced in circu-
lar May il would be followed in the
case OF neutral vessels attacked by
mistake
The Gulhight was torpedoed in the
bound from Port Arthur. Tex, for
Rouen, France. with oil She was tow
ed to Crows sound and beachcd for re-
pairs. Two seamen were drowned when
the crew took to the boats Immediately
after the attack, and the captain died
of heart disease the next day.
Text of the Note.
The text of the note. which was
signed by the minister of foreign af-
fairs. follows:
~, &c G
undersigned has the honor to inform
his excellency the ambassador of the
United States of America, Mr. James
W. Gerard, that the examination un-
dertaken on the part OF the German
government concerning the American
steamers Gulfiight and Gushing has led
to the following conclusions:
In regard TO the attack OH the steamer
Gultiight, the commander Of German
submarine saw. the afternoon of May /,
in the vicinity of the Sciily Islands a
large merchant steamer coming in his
direction. which was accompanied by two
smaller vessels These latter took such
position III relation to the steamer that
they formed a regulation safeguard
against submarines moreover, one of
them had q wireless apparatus, which is
not usual with small vessels From this
il evidently was a case of English con-
vov vessels. Since such vessels are regu-
approach the steamer on the surface of
the water without running the danger of
IT was, on the other hand.
to be assumed that the steamer was of
value to the British govern
ment, since il vas SO guarded. The COM
nlander could see no neutral markings on
it Of any kind-that is, distinctive marks
painted on the freeboard. recognizable
at a distance, such as are row usual on
ships In the English zone Of naval
warfare.
I'm consequence he arrived at the
from all the circumstances
that he had to deal with an English
steamer, submerged and attacked. The
torpedo came in the immediate neigh
borhood of one of the convoy ships.
which at orca rapidly approa ched the
point OF firing, SO that the subma rine
was forced to go to great depth to
avoid being ramrled. The conclusion of
the confrna nder that an English con-
voy ship was concerned was in this
way confirmed. That the attacked
steamer carried the American flag was
first observed at the moment of firing
the shots. The fact that the steam
ship was pursuing course which led
neither to nor from America was a
further reason why it did not occur
TO the commander of the submarine
that he was dealing with an American
steamship.