New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-10
1O7 Survivors Landed
at Bantry-U. S. Be-
gins Inquiry.
CAPITAL SEES
NO COMPLICATION
New U-BOat Orders Not
Yet Reached All OFF,
GERS, Is Belief.

Bantry, May 10.-One hundred and
seven members OF the crew of the Gym
ric arrived at Bantry this evening.
Several, suffering from broken limbs,
we're sent TO the hospital.
The officers OF the Cymric declare
that the vessel was torpedoed without
warning. A submarine was seen, but
it disappeared immediately after firing
the torpedo.
The Cymric. although badly dam
aged, made her way for some hours,
but finally sank.
Many OF the crew on their arrival
here were bsrefooted and only partial
ly clad. They we're provided with
clothing and given all the care possible
rFfom he Tribune Bureau
Washington, May 9.-While Admin.
istration officials are worried by re-
ports of the sinking OF the White Sta'
liner Cymric, which reached Washing
ton three days after the new German
promises. it is practically certain TO-
night that no new complications will
result. Advisers of the President say
the attack comes too soon to test Ger
many's most recent pledges. Not until
the new promises have been tried out
will the President enforce his threat TO
break relations.
No details of the attack have yet
reached the State Department, though
Consul Wesley Frost, at Queenstown,
reported to-day that absence Of warn
ing was "inferrsble." He reported that
the vessel sank at O'Clock this morn
ing. Five Of her crew Of 107 men were
killed by the explosion. The survivors
will land about noon to-day at Bantry.
No Americans are believed to have
been aboard.
Cymric's Status Not in Doubt.
The fact that Americans were not
endangered would not save Germany,
as the illegal destruction Of any vessel
is regarded by the Administration as
evidence of Germany's lswless intent
and a menace TO American rights. Hut
Washington is convinced that popular
opinion would not sanction drastic sc-
ton in the Cymric case unless Ameri-
can live. had been lost or threatened.
State Department officials are not i'm
pressed with the argument that the
Cymric was chartered TO the British
Admiralty, and therefore naval
auxiliary. A vessels status. Secretary
Lansing believes, is not affected by its
charter. The Cymric would have had
no right to clear from an American
mort with a cargo Of munitions had u
been an auxiliary war vessel, ana the
fact Of her clearance is, therefore,
taken as prima facie evidence OF her
merchant character.
The determining factors in deciding
the status of such vessels are the
nature of the officers and crew -
whether navy or company men ana
the mission of the vessel. The Cymric
was commanded and manned b. EN-
ployes of tho White Star Line, and va.
bound on a regular trade voyage. She
had no orders to supply war vessels at
sea or otherwise TO violate the neutral
ity statutes OF the United States.
A distinction is made between ves-
sells chartered 10 the British govern
ment and vessels requisitioned BY the
Admiralty. The latter arc always ON
cered and manned by navy men, whHe
tho former are merely held by contract
"a merchant service for the govern
ment. and have the same status as
ships chartered by private shippers.
Naval auxiliarics are also almost IN
yariably armed, while the Cymric car
ried no armament Of any kind.
Il is possible that IL the facts in the
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