The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-10-31
MARINA LOSS MAY
RENEW U-BOsF> !,
CONTROVERSY
Government WIFI Await Details
Before Taking Action
REPORTS NOT CONCLUSIVE
American Consul Not Positive that
Freight Steamer Was Sunk
Without Warning.

Washington, Oct. 31-Preliminary
reports of the sinking by German sub
marines of the British steamers Mari
ma and Rowanmore, partly manned by
Americans, were too incomplete last
night to enable officials at the state
department to form an opinion as to
whether there had been violation
of neutral rights or of pledges given
the United States by Germany. Secre
tary Lansing declined TO comment fur
ther than to admit that the reports
appeared more serious than the usual
routine dispatches announcing the de-
struction 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 break.
Altogether he gave the caution that
his information was purely provision
al" the consul cabled that the Marina
"horse transport with a mixed crew
of British and Americans, was re-
ported sunk without warning by Ger
man submarine gunfire, 100 miles
west of Cape Clear, Ireland, and that
70 of the crew of 104 were missing.
Press dispatches have indicated that
the missing men might reach shore
in their boats later.
Another message from Mr.. Frost
said members of the crew CT the Row
anmore. including Americans. had
shelled in their boats while abandon
ing the ship. after being chased by a
submarine for 80 minutes. There
were no casualties.
According to the agents in this
country of the Marinas owners, the
Donaldson line. the vessel with some
80 American horse tenders, was not
under charter to the British govern
ment as transport but was engaged
to her regular trade as freighter
and carried horses for the entente al
lies as a part of her general cargo.
Under such circumstances she would
be entitled to all the immunities of
any other belligerent-owned mer
chairman and an enemy destroying
her and her contraband cargo would
be required to make due provision
for the safety of the ships company
unless she was sunkin the act of at
tempting to escape.
Until full report has come from
Consul Frost no steps will be taken
by the state department. Frost is re-
garded as a thorough investigator and
has played part in determining the
facts in many of the most important
submarine Incidents, including the
destruction of the Lusitania. AZ
fidavits of American survivors are eX-
pected from him within day or two
Comparatively little importance is
attached to the case of the Rowan
more because it is admitted that tho
vessel attempted to escape and only
stopped after fleeing for so minutes
and having her steering gear shot
away There was heavy fog at the
time and officials think it would have
been easy for panic stricken 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.