The Washington herald., 1916-06-29


In letters approximately six feet long,
and the name of the haiiing port, and,
AS has previously been made known
to Austro-Hungarinn government, the
steamer carried two large flags some
distance above the water line which
II is positively stated by the officers
and crew were flying before the first
after the first shot, ns stated by the
submarine commander.
The submarine commander admits that
the steamer stopped her engines.
The captain OF the Petrolite denies that
the vessel was ever headed toward the
submarine, and the examination Of the
steamer made by an American naval con-
structOr corroborates this statement, be-
cause. as he states, the shell which took
effect on the vessel. striking the deck
house which surrounds the smokestack.
was fired from point forty-five degrees
on the starboard bow.
This was one of the last shots fired and
indicates that ship was not headed to-
ward the submarine even up to the time
when the submarine ceased firing
The captain states that the submarine
appeared to be maneuvering so as to d.
rect her shots from ahead of the steamer.
The submarine fired approximately twelve
shots.
Fired with Flag Flying.
The majority of the shots were fired
after the ship had stopped and had
swung broadside, and while, as even
the commander of submarine admits
the steamer was flying the American
flag.
The captain of the steamer denies that
ne advised the commander OF the SUBJ
marine that the damage to the steamer
IJa
vised him that the steamer had been
damaged. but that he had not then had
an opportunity to ascertain the extent of
the damage. The seaman who was struck
by fragment of shell sustained severe
flesh wounds
II the ship had intended to ram the
submarine. she would not have stopped
her engines and this must have been ea,i~
dent to the submarine commander Naval
authorities here agree that there could
have been no danger OF the ship ram
ming the submarine untn It was headed
straight for the submarine and was under
power. and even then the subma rine could
have so maneuvered as to avoid collision
The Petrolite was two miles away
from the submarine.
The engines and funnel Of the Petrolite
were at the stern. and from the general
appearance OF the ship no experienced
naval officer could have believed that II
had opportunity or sufficient speed to
attack even II 1t had been steamlng d.
rectly toward the submarine
The conduct of the submarine com.
mnnder showed lack of Judgment self
control or wiifu1 intent amounting to
utter disregard of the rights of a
neutral.
According to the sworn statements of
the captain Of steamer and a seaman
who accompanied him TO the submarine
the commander of the latter stated that
he mistook the steamer for a cruiser
This statement is al variance with the
statement in the Austro- Hunga rian gov
ernment's note that the captain of the
submarine asserted a false maneuver on
the part OF the steamer prompted the
submarine to continue to fire.
Forced to Deliver Food.
The captain of the steamer swears that
he Informed the commander of the SUBJ
marine that he had only sufficient pro-
visions to reach the port OF Algiers and
that he would deliver provisions only
under compulson.
He states positively in his affidavit and
In conversation with officials of the de-
partment that he did not give provisions
readily nor did he say it was the duty of
one seaman to help another, and that he
refused payment because he felt that
he was being compelled to deliver food
In violation of law
The statement of the captain Of the
Petrolite Is entirely at variance with the
report of the submarine comma nder
The correctness of the captains opin-
ion that the wounded seaman was held
as hostage to guarantee the delivery
of food seems clear. Obviously the COM
mander of the submarine had no right
to order the seamen to remain on board
The fact that this order was given
showed that the commander insisted
that food was to be delivered to him.
otherwise the seaman would naturally
have accompanied the captain back to
his vessel.
rine commander and all the circum-
stances of the attack on the Petrolite
warranted the captain in regarding him
self as being compelled in order to avoid
further violence to deliver food to the
commander of the submarine.
Deliberate Insult to Flag.
In the absence of other and more
satisfactory explanation of the at
tack on the steamer than that con-
tanned in the note addressed to you
by the Foreign office, the Govern
ment of the United States Is com
PEELED to regard the conduct of the
lacking the Petrolite and In coercing
the captain as n deliberate Insult to
the flag of the United States and an
invasion of the rights of American
citizens for which this Government
requests that an apology be made,
that the commander of the submarine
be punished, and that reparation be
mnde for the Injuries sustained. by
the payment of n suitable indemnity.
ta
Office in sense of foregoing.
You may add that this Government
believes that the Austro- Hungarian
Government will promptly comply with
these requests, in view of their man
ifest business and the high Sense of
honor of that government which
would not, 1t is believed. permit an
indignity to be offered to the flag
of a friendly power or wrongs to its
nationals hy an Austro- Hun ga ri q N