Albuquerque morning journal., 1916-10-31
Ditch Steamers Marina and
u Rouanmore Sent to Bottom
by German Submarines
Without Warning
SERIOUSNESS IS NOT
DISCOUNTED BY LANSING
Grew Of One Vessel Partly
''FT British and Partly Made Up
Of Citizens Of United StateSr
IS The information

mI,ngton m' oct. 30.-Prelimlnary
~ the sinking by German SUD
fepU,'o f..,o. of the British steamers Ma
ma Rowanmore, partly manned
Ilha ,aricans were too incomplete to-
y! NJ enable officials at the state
1lb", mont TO form an opinion as 10
ugp.har there had been violation OF
Wut,I ,'traI rights or of pledges given the
I,nitod states by Germany. Secretary
Vnl.J Vsinc, declined to comment further
i,e La,' 20 admit that the reports ap-
ulan o5 more serious than the usual
pe'itiro dispatches announcing the de-
,u,,ction of bellgerent merchantmen
iS mat fall information would De
swaited with interest.
situation Looks Grave.
ON its face the case of the Marina
ronorted by Consul Frost at Queens
town presents the gravest SITUATION
tbat has arisen since the SINKING OF
Tho channel steamer Sussex, Whlch
brought the American and German
governments to the verge of break
Inc noint Although he cautioned that
his Information was purely provision
a." tbe consul cabled that the Marina.
horse transport with a mixed crew
of British and Americans was re-
norted sunk without warning by Ger
nan submarine gunfire, 100 miles
wsst Of Cape Clear, and that seventy
of the crew of 1O4 were missing. Press
dispatches have indicated that the
miso'ng men might reach shore IN
the lp-yS later.
~ Soats Were Shelled.
Another message from Mr.. Frost
said members of the crew of the Row
anmore. including Americans, had
been shelled In their boats while aban-
doning the ship after being chased by
a submarine for fifty minutes. There
were no casnaAttss-~ 40
According to the agents in this
country of the Marina's owners, the
Donaldson line, the vessel, with some
fifty American horse tenders aboard,
was not under charter to the British
government as transport, but was en-
gagged in her regular trade as a
freighter and carried horses for the
allies as a part of her general cargo.
Under such circumstances she would
be entitled to all the immunities of any
other belligerent-owned merchantmen
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
sunk in the act of attempting to es-
cape.
Depends Upon Reports.
Apparently all depends upon the
accuracy of the first reports; whether
the Marina actually was attacked
without warning, or whether she is ia
he recorded as only another of the
scores Of British carriers that have
gone to the bottom as the result OF
their skippers desperate efforts tc
Outrun enemy shells,
Until a full report has come from
Consul Frost, no step will be taken
by the state department. Frost is re-
garded as a thorough investigator and
has played a part in determining the
facts in many of the most important
submarine incidents, including the de-
structiOn of the Lusitania. AffidaVitS
Of American survivors are expected
from him within a day or two.
Most of the officials of the depart
ment are inclined to be very optimis
tc They point out that rtnc after
time, first accounts have made 1t ap
pear that a ship had been sunk illegal
ly and that in every instance since
the Sussex complete reports have
proved that no laws or pledges haC
been violated 10y the submarine de
stT0yer
Comparatively little importance i
attached to the case of the Rowan
more, because it is admitted that thu
vessel attempted to escape and only
stopped after fleeing for fifty minute
Ond having her steering geer sho
away There was a heavy fog at thu
ume and officials think it would hav
Ieen easy for panic-stricken sailor
leayng their battered ship to have
imagined that the submarine wa
sending shells in their direction. Thu
opinion is strengthened by the fac
mat no one was lost.