Arizona republican., 1916-10-31
U-bOAT AGAIN
 BRINGS DEATH
 TO AMERICANS
Republican A. P. Leased WireJ


 WASHINGTON, Oct. 3O.-Prelimi- nary reports of the sinking by German submarines of the British steamers Marina and Rowanmore, partly man. ned by Americans, were too incomplete tonight to enable officials at the state department to form an opinion as to whether there had been a violation of neutral rights or of the pledges given the United States by Germany. Sec retary Lansing declined to comment further than to admit that the reports appeared more serious than the usual dispatches announcing the destruction of belligerent merchantmen, and that full information would be awaited with interest.
 On it's face. the case of the Marina. reported by Consul Frost at Queens town, presents the gravest situation that has arisen since the sinking of the channel liner Sussex, which brought the American and German governments to the verge of a break ing point. Although he cautioned that his information was purely "provis- ional," the consul cabled that the Ma rina, a horse transport with d mixed crew of British and Americans" was reported sunk without warning by Ger man submarine gunfire, 100 miles west of Cape Clear, and that seventy of the crew of l04 were missing. Press dis patches have indicated that the miss ing men might reach shore in their boats later
 Another message from MT Frost said members of the crew of the Rowan more, including Americans. had been shelled in their boats while abandoning the ship after being chased by a sub marine for fifty minutes. There were no casualties.
 According to the agents in this coUn- try of the Marina's owners, the Don- aldson line, the vessel, with some fifty American horse tenders aboard. was not under charter 10 the British gov ernment as a transport, but was en- gagged in her regular trade as a freight CT and carried horses for the allies as a part of her general cargo. Under such circumstances she would be en- titled to all the immunities of any other belligerent- owned merchantmen, and any enemy destroying her and her con tTaband cargo would be required to make due provision for the safety of the ships company, unless she was sunk in the act of attempting 10 es- cape.
 Apparently all depends upon the ac- curacy of the first reports; whether the Marina actually was attacked without warning or whether she is to be recorded as only another of the scores of British carriers that have gone to tfe bottom as the result Of their shippers desperate efforts to out 1 run enemy shells.
 Until a full report has come from Consul Frost no step will be taken by the state department Frost is re- garded as a thorough investigator and has played a part in determining the facts in many of the most important submarine incidents. including the de- struction of the Lusitania. Affidavits 1 of American survivors are expected ! from him within a day or so. l Most of the officials of the depart ment are inclined to be very optimistic. They point out that time after time ! first accounts have made it appear that a ship had been sunk illegally and that | in every instance since the Sussex ] complete reports have proved that no l laws or pledges had been violated by ] the submarine.
 | Comparatively little importance is 1 attached to the case of the Rowan more, because it is admitted the Ves- | sel attempted to escape and only stopped after fleeing for fifty minutes ! and having her steering gear shot away. There was a heavy fog at the i time and officials think it would be easy for panicstricken sailors leaving their battered ship to have imagined that the submarine was sending shells in their direction. This opinion is strengthened by the fact that no one was lost.