Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-07
CONTEND ARABIA
WAS TROOP SHIP
[Continued From First Page. ]

tions from Washington, follows:
Foreign ONCE, Berlin, December
4, 1916.
THE undersigned has the honor TO
inform Mr.. Grew, charge d'affaires of
the United States of America, in reply
to the note of the 21st ultimo, that the
investigation conducted by the Ger
man government concerning the sink
ing of the British steamer Arabia, has
led to the following results:
On the morning of November s, a
German submarine encountered
large steamer coming from the Cori-
go straits, one hundred nautical miles
west of the Island of Corigo. The
steamer was painted black and had a
black superstructure and not as other
wise the case with p. and o. line su-
perstructures, a light color. The
steamer which was Identical with the
Arabia was not travelling on the route
regularly used by the passenger
steamers between Port Said and Malta,
as is made plain on the enclosed map,
but was taking zigzag course toward
the west 120 nautical miles north of
that route. This course, on which the
submarine passed three similar steam
ers at the same spot on the same
morning, leading from the Aegean
Malta so that the Arabia was moving
on the transport route Corigo-Malta
used solely for war purpose. occording
" lllo SNpellcuCe uILll now.
Believed Workmen Soldiers
The commander of the submarine
further ascertained that there were
large patches of Chinese and other
colored persons in their national cos
tunes on board the steamer. He con-
sidered them to be workmen soldiers
such as are used in great numbers be-
hind the front by the enemies of Ger
many. In spite of the clear weather
and careful observation he did not
perceive any women and children.
In these circumstances, the COM
mander of the submarine was con-
vinced that in the case of this steamer
he was concerned with a TRANSPORT
ship for troops in the service of the
British government which is to be
considered as an auxiliary warship
according to international law and can
therefore be treated like a warship.
He accordingly considered himself jus
titled in attacking the steamer without
delay and sank it. --
Should the American government
give the official data showing that the
Arabia was at the time of the torpe-
doing an ordinary passenger steamer
the action of the commander would
not have been in accordance with the
instructions given him, since these in
strucuons are now as before in agree
ment with the assurances of the Ger
man note of May, 1916. This would
then be a case of a regrettable mis-
take from which the German govern
ment would promptly draw the appro-
pirate consequences"
U. S. Officials Reticent
Secretary Lansing refused to COM
ment on the case to-day and other Off
cials were reticent.
Should it be shown that the Arabia
was, as Germany contends, a trans
port. this government probably would
admit the sinking was justified.
If, however, it is shown that the
submarine commander was mistaken
in holding her to be a transport
most serious situation will confront
the State Department. At the time
the Sussex was sunk GERMANY was
told that this country could not toler-
ate 'regrettable mistakes"