Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-23
ORDERS INQUIRY
INTO SINKING OF
STEAMER EVELYN
Secretary Daniels Asks Naval At
tache at Berlin for Report on
Loss of American Cotton
Ship in German Waters.
WILL HAVE BILL FOR DAMAGES
If Mine Which Sunk Vessels is Iden-
titled Nation Planting 1t Will
Be Asked to Pay,
INSURED BY FEDERAL BUREAU

WASHINGTON. Feb. 22.-secre-
tary Daniels today ordered Com
mander Walter r. Gherardi. Amer
lean naval attache at Berlin, to in
vestigate and make a full report on
the destruction of the American
steamer Evelyn. So far advices
merely have reported the sinking of
the vessel and its cargo, but gave no
details.
Wants Technical Information.
Secretary Daniels explained that his
lurpcse in directing ar inquiry after the
state department had called UPON he
ambassadors at London and Berlin for
report was to get technical information.
which might perhaps might not be m
oluded in the anbassadOrs' replies. It
was, of course, understood that Com
mander Gerhardt. as an American at
tache at the American embassy at Berlin.
would be guided entirely by Ambassador
Gerard in making his investigation.
1t was said at the Navy department
that from present indications 1t will be
difficult for the Navay department to
secure exact information OF what ac-
tually destroyed the Evelyn.
Senator Simmons, one Of the trainers of
the bill which created the war risk bu-
reau, White House caller today, said he
assumed an effort would be made first
TO establish the responsibility for the
sinking of the Evelyn and that IL the
nationality Of the mine could be dis
covered. the government war risk bureau
would make efforts TO collect damages.
Warming Applied to Submarines.
The American note TO Germany. warn
ing that country against attacks on
American vessels in these zones of war
applied only to submarines since the
outbreak of the war the North Sea has
been mined by both German and Great
Britain and an added warning was given
TO neutral commerce by the German reply
TO the American note last week in an
nouncing that mines would be strewn in
the waters surrounding Great Britain and
Ireland and in the English channel.
Hitherto in the notification of areas
mined, pilots have been offered for neu-
tral vessels. Whether the Evelyn had an
opportunity TO obtain pilot or whether
II struck a mine with pilot aboard were
questions on which officials expected to
receive definite information tomorrow
from Ambassadors Page at London and
Gerard at Berlin. to both Of whom the
State department had directed inquiries.
The only message before the depart
ment early today was from American
Consul Fee at Bremen. who reported that
the Evelyn had been blown up. but did
not give the cause. His cablegram stated
that the ship and cargo had been lost.
but that the crew was safe. Officials be-
lleved the crew had been landed in Ger
many, as Borkum is near the German
coast
diplomatic Action Improbable.
il was considered unlikely that there
would be any diplomatic action resulting
from the loss of the Evelyn beyond
claims for damages, inasmuch as there
is now no international convention in
force prohibiting the laying of mines,
whether for offensive or defensive pur-
poses In the Russo-Japanese war the
Japanese strewed mines across the har-
Dor entrance to Port Arthur. which was
hell by the Russians. Similarly the
japanese laid mines in Vladivostol
waters across Peter the Great bay for a
distance OF forty miles While the lay
ing of mines in offensive operations such
as The recent German note proclaimed,
has not been acquiesced in as a belIig-
erent right, 1t is believed I'm official quar-
ters that this and other precendents would
make it difficult for the United States
TO make further diplomatic protest.
The prevailing opinion in administration
circles today was that that the United
states government would stand firmly
on its warnings to Great Britain and
Germany, respectively. concerning the
misuse of neutral flags and possible at
tacks on American vessels or lives by
submarines This policy was regarded as
significant Of a possible critical turn OF
affairs, should any violation Of the warn.
ing ensue.
Carries Federal Insurance.
The Evelyn Is the first ship insured
With the United States bureau of war