New Britain herald., 1915-05-26

1 under charter to the United States army as a transport and was lifted ,,lp l to carry horses from Galveston 70 1 Funston's troops at Vera Cruz. After being released from government ser 1 vice she was sent through the Pana- ma Canal, being one of the first ships 1 to bring cargo from the Pacific coast through the new waterway. Consul Skinner Cables News. Washington, May 26.-Gonsul Gen. eral Skinner at London, cabled to- day: The British admiralty reports the American steamer Nepraskan tor
 Fedoed. = He gave the same location as mentioned in the London de- spatches, and added that he had re- ceived no direct report
 The text of Mir. Skinner's cable- gram folows Admiralty reports American steamer NebrasKan, Liver pool for Delaware breakwater tor pedoed forty miles south by west
 Fastnet. Crew and boats standing by. Weather fine. No direct reports
 Government Circles Aroused.
 Coming close on the Lusitania dis
 asteF, the news that another American
 ship has been endangered aroused
 '
 ernment circles but all o1I1cials were
 disposed to hear details before making
 comment.
 Some officials could not understand
 why ship bound for the United
 States, in ballast, ana, therefore
 carrying contraband, should have
 heen endangered by torpedo and
 they considered it among the possi-
 EjIities that the NebIasxan had struck
 drifting mine z {. Information Too MeaRre.
 Secretary Bryan said the state de-
 partment's information was too
 aeagre to permit the forming of an
 opinion He said a full report with
 details of the attack was expected
 soon
 Variety Of Opinions.
 The status of the Nebraskan under
 international law brought out va
 riety of opinions today when news was
 received that the vessel was char
 tered to the White Star Line. wheth-
 CT sunk by mine or torpedo.
 claim for damages might raise a com
 plicated question, it was said. If the Nebraskan was in the sc1vice of a
 British concern, according to previous
 decision in such cases, she would be lawful prize, liable to seizure and con- demnation. Chief Justice Chase held ] that neutral vessels engaged in bell ligerent trade or service become inn pressed with a belligerent character The fact that Americans were aboard the Nebraskan would require, under the position taken by the United States, that the vessel be given due warning and her crew removed to a place of safety before destruction. Arrangements Under Charter. Officials here are interested in learn ing Exactly what were the Nebraskan's arrangements under charter If she struck a mine. responsibility would be difficult 10 fix, as the United States I government has never been able to determine whether Germany or Great ] Briteain laid the mines ;n the open
 sea which destroyed the American cot ] ton ships Evlyn and Carib.
 i No Comment From Wilson. The official and news despatches on ] the Nebraskan was communicated to 1 President Wilson, but no comment was i forthcoming from the White House. 1 1t was indicated that fuli investi- gation would be made as promptly as l possible.
 The damage to the Nebraskan re- called at once in official quarters the l German governments assurances, pre- l sented by Count Bernstorr to Secre-s | tary Bryan on May II, that subma- l rine commanders had been specifically f instructed not to harm neutral vessels not engaged in hostile acts, and that l Germany would pay for any damage to such ships in the war zone. The German governments communication added that inasuch a case it would ex- press it's regrets and pay damages without resort to q prize court. In 1 case of dispute of facts Germany of fered to arbitrate claims at The Hague.
 i The imperial German government. said the communication, "l.as not in- tention of causing to be attacked by submarines or air craft such neutral l ships of commerce in the zone of ! naval warfare, or definitely described ] in the notice of the German admiralty l staff ol February last, as have been guilty of no hostile act. On the con- trary most definite instructions re- peatedly have been issued to German war vessels to avoid attacks on such l ships under all circumstances. Even when such ships have contraband of war on board they are dealt with by submarine solely according to the