Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-02-23
AMERICAN MERCHANTMEN
STRIKES MINE IN NORTH
SEA AND GOES DOWN
FOLLOWED BRITISH IN
sTRUCT1oNs.
STATE DEPARTMENT PROBING
Former President Taft Says Ma.
tion is Pace to Face
with Crisis.

with Crisis.
Berlin, Feb. 22.-Captain Smith, of
the American steamer Evelyn has in.
formed authorities, according to re-
ports, that his ship met disaster
through advice of British naval board
ing officer, who instructed hm to fol.
low a course on which he struck mnes
instead of northerly course as speci-
fled in the German instructions.
y The disaster occurred at four Fri
day morning and the Evelyn sank
seven hours later. Captain Smith and
a Dutch pilot and thirteen men drifted
in rowboat until Saturday when
they we're rescued by German patrol
boat. The mate and remainder of the
crew, it is understood, landed in Hol-
land.
Nothing Seen Of Crew.
Hague, Feb. 22.-Reports from
North Holland say nothing was seen
or heard of members of the crew Of
steamer Evelyn, reported to have pro.
ceeded for Holland after the steamer
was blown up. A dense fog prevailed
yesterday The Dutch marine depart
sment is without information regard
ing the missing men of Evelyn's crew.
At midnight the 13 men missing
from the American steamer ,Evelyn's s
crew had not besn reported at any
point in Holland
Wilson confers With Bryan.
Washington, Feb. 22.-Wilson con-
ferred with Bryan tonight concerning
destruction of the American steamer
Evelyn off the coast of Germany, and
in the absence of definite information
as to cause M wreck, no course Of ac-
ton has been decided.
Secretary Daniels instructed the
naval attacfie Of the American en-
embassy at Berlin to make: an invests
cation of the disaster, and report the
technical information possible for him
to gather, regarding mine fields, the
course of the vessel at the time of d.
saster and other data to aid the
United States t. form judgment as to
responsibility.
Nationality Of Mine.
l. IS conceded officially, If the ma.
tionality of the mine is not determin-
ed, no proof can be obtained showing
whether there were official notifica-
tions concerning the course to be fol-
lowed by the Evelyn. Hence there
would be no ground for diplomatic ac-
ton.
TAFT Apprehensive.
MOrristown, N. j., Feb. 22.-That
the United States is threatened with
serious invasion of it's rights as a
neutral by warning nations Of Europe,
and in preserving it's commerce with
those nations, is face to face with a
crisis, is tke opinion of Ex-president
Taft, speaking before the Washington
association Of New Jersey. In the so.
luton of that crisis, should it arise,
no jingo spirit must be allowed to
prevail, advised Taft, and neither
pride nor momentary passion should
influence our judgment.
Stand BY President.
'When the President shall act" he
declared, I'VE must stand by him to
the end. All will forget their differ
ences in self-sacrificing loyalty to our
common flag, and our common coun-
try.
"Our efforts for peace he contin-
ned, shave been made as complete as
possible, for the President already
has rendered the good offices Of med
iation between powers and they have
not accepted"
Austria to Follow Plan.
London, Feb. 22.-Warship Of mod
ern warfare submarine, by which
Germany declared she will blockade
Britain, daily becomes a factor of
greater Importance in war, with re-
gard to its influence on policies Of
nations engaged in connection with
cotraband question.
Coincident with reports that Aus
tria proposes to follow the example of
her ally by attacking merchantmen in
the Adriatic came the announcement
by Premier Asquith that tentative re-
taliatory plan of England, is much
broader than previously suggested.
and a matter for consideration of all
the allies.
Shipping ParaIyzed.
. It was stated in the house of com.
mons that Britain might deem it ne
cessary to alter it's decision whereby
cotton has not been classed as con-
traband. Three small British craft
are missing and Amsterdam reports
two German submarines overdue at
the base, Cuxhaven. Their fate is un-
known. Traffic in the North sea is
GisOrganizod Dn,tch and Scandina.
Wan sailors are reluctant to go to
sea, owing to the menace of both sub
marines and mines.
a Copenhagen dispatch says con-
ference between the representatives
OF Scandinavian governments over
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