Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-27
Report Of Captain of Vessel
Does Not State Positively
That She Was Victim Of a
German Submarine,
STRICT SILENCE is
KEPT BY OFFICIALS
Would Be Aggravated Case if
Done by UnderSeaS Craft
While LuSitania Negotiations
Are Pending,

Washington, May 26.--The coursd
Of the United States government in
the case of the American steamer Ne
braskan, damaged off the coast OF
Ireland, was undetermined tonight
because officials were without defi-
mite information as to whether the
y was torpedoed or struck by a
ne
Messages from Ambassador Page
and Consul General Skinner az Lon
don today transmitted the report Of
the British admiralty that the vessel
had been torpedoed, but officials
noted with much interest the captain s
report to her owners. indicating a
doubt whether the Nebraskan was hit
by torpedo or a mine.
President Wilson himself read all
the official and unofficial dispatches
In view of the position which the
United States has taken on the sub
jeot of submarine activity in the war
zone and the delicacy of the situation
with Germany arising out of the l.u-
sitania disaster the story of the Ne
braskan's experience is awaited with
unusual interest Should ii develop
clearly that she was torpedoed with
out warning, an aggravating clrcum-
stance will have been added to an al
ready tense situation, Notwithstanding
the fact that no lives were lost.
Regrets Not Sufficient.
Germany in a circular note to neu-
tral governments ON May II an
nounced that regret would be eN-
pressed end payment of damages
made without prize court proceedings
for all neutral vessels attacked by
mistake in the war zone. The United
States in its note of May 10 pointed
out that expression of regret and Of
fers OF reparation in case of destruc-
ton of neutral ships sunk by mis-
take, while they may satisfy interna-
tional obligations If no loss of life re-
suits cannot justify or excuse prae-
tice the natural and necessary effect
OF which is to subject neutral nations
and neutral persons to new and I'M
measurable risks
Officials here were reticent to dis
cuss the case pending full reports.
Counsellor Lansing, Of the state de-
partment, revealed, however, that as
surances had sometime ago been re-
ceived from Great Britain to the ef-
feet that such mines as had been laid
by the British admiralty were Of ma
ture which would become innocuous
if detached from their anchorage. No
other government, Mr.. Lansing said,
had given similar assurances.
May Remain Mystery.
The United States has never been
able to fix responsibility for accidents
to the American cotton ships Carib
and Evelyn. and naval officials say 1t
will be difficult task to determine
from an examination of the Nebas-
kan's hull whether a mine or tor
pedo struck her. An investigation
nevertheless will be ordered when the
ship reaches port.
SO far as the state department IS
informed there is no British mine
field near where the Nebraskan was
struck.
The fact that the Nebraskan was
under charter to a British concern,
partly American owned, prior to sail
ing on her return voyage, it was said,
by officials, would not affect her
status. She carried no contrabandi
and was engaged in no hostile service,
being bound for Hampton Roads u
take on coal for the United States
navy TO be carried as freight to San
Francisco