The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-11-03
Sinking of SIS. Marina Without
Warning
R0WANMORe ALSO SUNK
Her Boats SheIled After They
Were Clear-SeveraI Americans
In Crews of Destroyed
Steamers

]
| German governments are involved in
| the destruction off the Irish coast of
| the British freight steamships Ma
/ rina and ROwanmore by German sub
marines. There were Americans In
| the crew OF each ship. Those on the
| Rowanmore were all saved. Only a
small part Of the crew Of the Marina
is reported saved, the fate Of 20 be-
ing in doubt
Wesley Frost. the American consul
at Queenstown, Ire, from whom Sec
retary Lansing has received the only
/ official information obtainable thus
/ far regarding the destruction Of the
| two vessels, notified the state depart
ment that the Marina was sunk by
gunfirc without warning and that the
submarine shelled the ROwanmore
after that vessel had stopped. and
also shelled the ROwanmore's small
boats after they were clear OF the
steamer. If these statements are
correct, a protest will be made TO the
German government on the ground
that the pledges given to the United
manner in which German submarine
warfare should be conducted have
been violated
Secretary Lansing is refusing TO
discuss or comment on the Marina
and Rowanmore cases beyond saying
that what occurred is a question of
fact and that no action would be
tpIy.
and analyzed. Although Consul
Frost stated in his telegram that the
Marina was sunk bygunire without
warning he was careful 10 say that
the information he had forwarded tC
Washington regarding the Marina
was TO be regarded as provisional
information.
In view of this explanation il was
impossible for officials to accept az
final or even as accurate the prelim
mary statement that the Marina was
sunk without warning, In the absence
of definite information which the
consul will send later.
The following is paraphrase OF
Consul Frost's cablegram concerning
his information regarding the sinking
OF the Marina:
''The Donaldson line horse trans
port Marina of Glasgow was sunk by
submarine gunfire, without warning.
at p. m. Oct 2S, 100 miles west OF
Cape Clear. Thirty-four of the crew
rescued thus far out of total of
1O4. Boats and 8 are missing.
Crew said to be composed Of British
and Americans. Survivors were
landed at Crookhaven."
Consul Frosts cablegram regarding
the sinking of the Rowanmore was
as follows:
"Furness frelghter Rowanmore,
bound from Baltimore for Liverpool
with a mixed cargo. was attacked by
German submarine at S.45 a. m,
oct. %. 14O miles west southwest of
Cape Clear. After 80 minutes at
tempt to escape the Rowanmore's
steering gear was shot away. Master
stopped and signalled he was aban-
doning ship. The submarine contin-
ued shelling her and sheled boats
after the latter were clear. No cas-
ualties."
If the Marina was sunk by sub
marine guntire without warning, the
incident will be regarded by the
Washington government as a serious
departure from the pledges given by
the German government 10 the effect
that no vessels would be sunk with.
out warning and without safety TO
human lives unless the vessel attack
ed had offered resistance or attempt
ed 10 escape.
Although Consul Frost states that
the Marina was sunk without warn
ing he explains in the same message
that his information is provisional,
which is interpreted as meaning that
he had not been able to obtain what
he regarded as reliable statements
regarding what actually occurred.
There is nothing to show whether
the Marina was endeavoring TO es-
cape. II sunk by guntire while trying
10 escape, Ii would not be regarded
as violation of Germany's pledges.
The question as TO what constitutes
warning is likely to be raised IL
the master sets up the contention
that no warning was given. Warning
Is given by shell fire. and In some OF
the submarine cases gunire shots
which were intended as warning shots
have ben mistaken for shell fire with
out warning.
Both the Marina and the Rowan
more were sunk some distance west.
or west southwest. of Cape Clear,
which is a promontory on the Irish
coast. some distance west OF Old
Head of Kinsale. near which point
the Lusitania was destroyed. Fastnet
rock. the first important light In the
route OF steamers from this country
TO Queenstown and Liverpool. is only
short distance west Of Cape Clear.
Bantry. the port 10 which the sur
vivors of the crew OF the Rowanmore
were taken. is on Bantry bay. a large
estuary on the Irish coast north OF
Fastnet rock.