Arizona republican., 1915-02-23
In Absence, However, of
Definite Information as
to Cause Of Wreck, No
Action Beyond Diplomatic
Inquiry is Decided Upon
STILL SEARCHING
FOR MISSING CREW
instructions Are Issued to
Naval Attachc of EN-
bassv at Berlin to Secure
All Data Available Con
corning Cause Of Wreck
ASSOCIATED FREss DIsPATCH1

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Tne pres
ident conferred with Secretary Bryan
tonight concerning the destruction of
the American steamer Evelyn off the
coast of Germany on Friday, but in the
absence of definite information as to
the cause of the wreck no course of
action beyond diplomatic inquiries, has
been decided upon. Having learned I'm
Officially that part of the Evelyn's crew
when cast adrift from the sinking ves-
sci headed for the coast of Holland,
Secretary Bryan cabled to Minister
Van Dyke at The Hague the same mes
sage previously sent to Ambassadors
Page and Gerard at London and Ber
lin, asking that every care be extended
the crew and an investigation of the
facts made through all available agen-
Cies
Earlier in the day Secretary Daniels
instructed the naval attache of the
American embassy at Berlin to make
an investigation Of the disaster and re-
port such technical information as is
possible for him to gather concerning
the mine fields, the course of the vessel
at the time of her mishap, when she
took pilot aboard and other data
which might aid the United States III
forming Judgment as to the RESPONSE
bility for the destruction of the ship
It is conceded in official quarters IL
the nationality of the mine is not de-
termned and if no proof is obtained to
show whether the official notification
10 neutral vessels concerning the course
they should steer was being followed by
the Evelyn, there will he virtually no
ground for diplomatic protest civil
suit. however. by the United States war
insurance bureau and owners of the
vessel and cargo are certain to follow
upon such evidence as can be gathered
through official inquiries now being
made. Some officials thought a claim
for damages might even be laid against
both Germany and Great Britain, If the
mines were sown far beyond the bel
iigerent zones of operation without
giving due notice to neutral craft.
Some anxiety prevailed among Off
cials over the fate Of that portion of
the crew of the Evelyn supposed to
nave rOWeQ Tor lne COAST OIL fOiliiiu
after the vessel struck. The message
last night from American Consul Fee
at Bremen said merely the crew was
saved" 1t made no mention of the
missing men. This was not supple
mented by any further message and
officials knew only through press re-
ports that the mate and sailors WhS
were originally thought to have been
landed safely in Holland, had not been
reported through any of the coast
guard stations of the Dutch admiralty
as having been located anywhere in
Holland.
While the case of the Evelyn contin-
ued today to absorb attention. the fact
that no international convention now
in force governed the laying of mines
and that il had been impossible for
other neutral governments who had
| lost vessels in a similar manner during
the present war to fix the responsible
| ity for the accidents. removed some OF
the tension which first reports of the
| wreck produced.