Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-05-27
American Naval Expert Is
Sent to Liverpool to Ey-
anime Nehraskan.
MAY HAVE STRUCK MINE
No Definite Information in
Reports From London
Ambassador.

Washington. D. c. May 27.-Mes-
sages received by the state department
today fl ON Ambassador Page and Con-
sui General Skinner at London and
Consul Frost at Queenstown failed TO
say definitely whether the steamer
/ INebraskan had been torpedoed or had
struck mine
| The American naval attache at Lon
/ don has been sent TO Liverpool to ex-
anime the Nebraskau's hull.
Consul General SINNERS message
follows:
Green, master OF American steam
er Nebraskan, in wireless, addressed
to me via London. reports:
'Nebraskan passed Fastnet rock
Tuesday. ABB p. m, from Liverpool
bound for Delaware breakwater, in
ballast. At SPA p. m. when steamer
was about as miles west half south
from Fastnet she experienced violent
shock followed Instantly by terrific
explosion, bursting matches and throw
ing hatch beams. cargo derricks and
twisted iron into air. filling lower hold
forward completely with water. Crew
Immediately took to boats.
After standing by ships one hour
returned on board and at 1880 start
ed for Liverpool. About 1:25 a. IA.
met two vessels sent by British ad-
miralty in answer to our wireless call
One has been in attendance ever since.
Had No Warming.
"It was dusk when the explosion
occurred. Flag had been hauled down
painted on both sides of the ship in
saw nothing"
Ambassador Page sent the following
message:
Admiralty have reported from
Queenstown that the Nebraskan is now
on her way to Liverpool, under her
own steam. and is being escorted. 1
am sending naval attache to Liverpool
to examine the ship, which, it now ap-
pears. was outward bound from Liver
pool to Delaware breakwater when
she was torpedoed."
The message from Consul Frost said
the ship had struck a mine or tor
pedo," but gave no details As soon as
the dispatches were received at the
state department they were forward
ed to the White house and Immediately
placed before President Wilson.
It is not expected here that definite
information regarding the matter will
be disclosed until an investigation is
made. pending which the course of the
American government will not be de-
termined upon. An inquiry will be
made as soon as the steamer reaches
Liverpool, where she is expected to
arrive tomorrow night.
Flag Had Been Hauled Down.
One OF the dispatches said the Ne
braskan's American flag had been
hauled down five minutes before she
was struck, although her name was
painted on her sides In letters six feet
high.
f. II. DUh, counsel for the company
owning the Nebraskan, communicated
with the New York Offices today and
later at the state department said the
circumstances of the affair, particu-
larly the damage to the bow of the
Nebraskan, indicated 10 him that the
vessel struck mine. The steamship
officials with whom he talked in New
York held the same view. although
they had very little information He
said that no steps so far had been
taken with view TO protest or repre-
sentations.
Count Berustorn. the German am
bassador. presented a memorandum to
the state department today saying Ger
man mines were of a type which be-
comes harmless if they drift from their
anchorages.