Evening star., 1916-08-19
May Have Had NoePassengers:

May Have Had NocPassengers.
The stampalia was passenger liner
of 5000 tons gross. In common with
other Italian liners she mounted guns
for protection from submarines. The
last report of her movements was her
arrival July 80 at. Genoa from New
York. so that she apparently was sunk
on the return voyage to the United
States She was commanded by Capt
Lavarello. -
The New York agents for the Stampalia
said today that two weeks ago they
had received a cable message advising
them that all sailings Of the steamship
had been Cancelled. They repressed the
opinion, on this account, that the Stam-
palia had been reQuisitioned. and was
in the service of the Italian govern
ment. In this case she would have no
passengers on board.
The Stampalia has accommodations
for about 1,700 passengers. On her re-
cent voyages from Italy to New York pa a.
senger traffic has been light, and the
agents in New York of the line said to-
day she probably carried "A -coinpara-
lively small number. Of passengers, Her
crew numbered about ITO.
No word had been received in New
York by the agents OF the line Of the
reported sinking of the .Stampalfa. at
the time of the arrival of the London
press dispatch.
The Stampalia first appeared in New
York as an armed steamer in February
last, arriving from Genoa with two
three-inch rapid-f1re guns mounted on
her after deck house. Washington was
notified, and on being informed that the
guns were to be used for defensive pur-
poses only. instructed the collector of
the port Of New York to grant clear
ance papers.
On arriving at New York March a.
the Stampalia reported a wireless
warning had been received soon after
leaving Genoa that a submarine was
lying in walt for her of Sardinia In
stead Of going north Of Sardinia and
along the north shore of the Mediterra
the safest route, she went south of Sar-
dinia and through the Straits of Boni-
facio. between Sardinia and Corsica.
7 Vessels Pursued by U-Boats.
Several armed Italian steamships
have reported sighting submarines. in
| the Mediterranean. and in some in
stances being pursued by them and FIR
ing on them. italian naval Runners
were detailed to service on armed pas
senger vessels to operate the guns.
When the Italian steamship Re
Dltalia arrived in New York August &
from Genoa her captain reported she
had fired on three submarines In the
Mediterranean. The steamship was
pursued for seven hours. and passen-
gers said they believed one Of the sub
marines had been sunk.
There has been some increase re.
Gently in submarine activity. The naval
expert of the Paris Temps wrote Thurs
day that the German submarine cam
naiRn against merchant ships was
again in full swing. in accordance with
the German note to the United States
in February, in which It was said nfer-
chant ships carrying guns could not be
considered as peaceful vessels.
The Stampalia was AIS feet long and
| IS feet of beam. She was built at
Spezia in 1909. and was owned at
Genoa
AMSTERDAM, August 1s.-In recog-
milton of his sinking of 100 vessels Of
| the entente allies. Capt. Lieut.. walter
Forstmann. commander of a German
submarine, has been given the Order Of
Pour le Merite by the German en-
peror, says q Berlin dispatch received
here The ships sunk by him. including
war vessels, aggregated 100000 tons,
and their total value II estimated 1t
81, 100000 pounds sterling. the dispatch
eosAss