New-York tribune., 1916-07-29
The Neptune's Commander
COrrObOrates Report of
LOuiSiana'S Men.
FLED AFTER SIGNALS
WERE EXCHANGED
Phelps Saw Nothing Suspicious
About Mystery Ship Which
Came Inside Capes.

Norfolk. Va, July 28.-Lieutennn'
Commander Thomas Shane, Of the
United States collier Neptune, said to-
day he had forwarded an official report
to Washington corroborating the state
ment of officers OF the United States
cruiser Louisiana that an undermined
yarship was within the Virginia Capes
last Tuesday morning. He further de-
clared that he saw it moving outward
TO sea. The report of Commander
Shane contains the first official declara-
tion that a warship was seen leaving
the Capes.
az am confident that / saw the same
vessel that the Louisiana reported,
Commander Shane said, "and while
cannot say that it was a British cruiser,
| do know it was warship.
81 saw her leaving the capes about
3 o'clock in the morning. That was
after she had exchanged signals win
the Louisiana. | witnessed those sig
nails. but do not know what tbey
were. as my signalmen could not read
them. Nothing can convince me tnat
strange warship was not IN hampton
Roads on that morning.
Others Tell of Mystery Ship.
Commander Shane declined to dis
ems. the situation further. Others,
however. gave details Of the Neptunes
reported sighting of the mystery ship
They declared that the Neptune came
into the Capes about four miles behlnd
the Louisiana, instead of some fye
hundred yards, as previously told py
men on other ships.
She was Just inside the Capes when
she first saw signalling between the
Louisiana and another ship carrying
man-of-war lights. After the exchange
the unidentified ship passed further up
the channel toward Hampton Roads.
Almost half an hour later persons
aboard the Neptune saw the mystery
shin again. She was then heading out
ward. carrying the regular running
lights and. in addition, two white
lights aft. signifyng that she was
men-of-war The Neptune signalled
her, and she did not reply, but put out
her white lights. Continuing ner out.
ward Journey, she passed within Zoo
yards Of the Neptune. made toward tne
Cape Henry Lighthouse side OF the
capes and disappeared in the darkness
Washington. July 2S Commander
Phelps of the battleship Louisiana sent
a further report TO the Navy Depart
ment to-day regarding the mysterious
vessel which signalled English cruis-
er" to him in lower Chesapeake Bay
early last Tuesday morning. He de-
scribed the incident in detail, explain
ing that he did not ask the snip her
name or intentions because her actions
had no: seemed suspicious. lie ex-
pected 10 find her off Fortress Monroe
at daylight. Nit,
In view of the report of the British
admiral commanding the cruiser squad
ron off the Atlantic coast, brought 10
the State Departments attention by
the British Ambassador. denying that
any of his ships had entered American
territorial waters, the incident VIII not
be the subject OF inquiry or protest.
Officials are mystifed. however. by
Commander Phelps's circumstantial ac-
count of what happened.
Certainly the neutrality patrol OF
the Virginia Capes by the armored
ing destroyers will be maintained pend
ing the departure of the Deutschland
Commander Makes Report.
about 2:45 a m. Tuesday, July 25,'
rays Commander Phelps's supplement
tary report, "the Louisiana, then stand
ing for an anchorage in Lynnhaven
Bay, being at the time TO westward OF
the line of Cape Henry Light-tall Oh
the Horseshoe Light vessel-a vessel
carrying man-of-war lights, masthead
light, running lights and range light
with the loom of deck standing lights
glowing through five or SIX square
ports. without any other illumination
whatever, came upon the starDoard
quarter of the Louisiana, distant per-
haps $50 yards, heading for the chan-
mel into Hampton Roads.
"The Louisiana blinkered interroga-
tory TO her several times, and turned
on man-of-war lights. Finally she an
swered English cruiser She signalled
very rapidly, causing the Louisiana TO
have her repeat more than once, until
we were sure of her signal.
"She disappeared in the thickness
toward the channel to Hampton Roads.
81 did not signal TO ask her name
and her intentions, because her actions
had not seemed suspicious 10 me, IN
asmuch as she seemed fairly to dis
close her presence, seemed fairly
standing for Hampton Roads, and left
me with the feeling that she was actu-
ally going into port and would be found
off Fort Monroe in the morning"