The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1916-12-15
GERMANY DENIES
SINKING US. SHIP
STEAMER LANAo. U-BoAT VICTIM.
WAS NORWEGIAN VESSEL,
DECLARES NOTE.
At kATER|NA
ALLIED BATTLE LINE PIERCED;
STATEMENT OF DEMANDS
GIVEN ENTENTE.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington-A note OF explanation
by Germany in response to the Ameri-
,an inquiry concerning the sinking OF
the steamer Lanao on Oct. % reached
the State Department through Charge
Grew at Berlin. 1t says the ship was
sailing under the British flag and was
sunk by submarine after provision
for the safety of her crew, because
she was captured carrying contraband
and could not be taken into port.
The only question at issue in the
case Is whether the vessel was under
American registry, in which case Ger
many would be liable for damages to
her owners. 1t is admitted that she
was sold by her owners In Manila be-
fore starting on her last voyage. but
her master has reported that the act
ual transfer Of registry had not taken
place This point will be investigated
further.
The German note. dated Berlin, Dec.
9, and signed by Foreign Secretary
Zimmerman, follows:
The undersigned has the honor to
reply as follows to the note Of Mr..
Grew, charge daffaires Of the United
States Of America, dated the 21st ult..
relative to the sinking OF the steamer
Lanao by a German submarine.
"On Oct 2S last, German subma-
rins encountered the steamer Lanao
on the way to LIE Havre and captured
1t as a prize because 1t was carrying
contraband to the enemy. Since tho
submarine was unable to conduct the
Lanao into q German or allied port
without exposing itself to the danger
OF sinking. it sank the steamer after
1t had taken the crew on board. The
crew was then sent on board the Nor.
wegian steamer Tromp, which was
just at the time in sight.
The steamer Lanao belonged orig
inally to the Findlay- Millar Steamship
Company OF Manila. 1t was, however,
sold in July, 1918, to the shipping firm
of Hannevig brothers Of London, and
sailed since under the English nag.
The owners of the firm of HanneviS
brothers are the sons of the shipown-
er. Christian Hannevig of Borre. Nor
way, and are, like him, Norwegian sub
jscts'
New York.-The American steam.
ship Virginia, from New York. Nov. 26,
for spezia and Genoa. rumored in mar.
itime circles as having been sunk. was
reported by cable as having passed
Gibraltar Dec. -.
London.-The Austrian government
has resigned This is announced in
a Reuter- dispatch from Amsterdam.
Berlin.-Fighting is in progress b.
tween Greek regular troops and ths
French, the Overseas News Agency
announces.
The news agency says the fighting
is taking place north of Katerina,
about sixty miles southwest of Ga,
loniki and that the Greeks have .
force Of 5000 men.
The town of Katerina has been cap
tured by the Greeks. the news agency
says, the French line Of positions hav-
ing been pierced. The Greeks are
said to have taken up a line between
Katerina and Borlotzko.
Demands said to have been made by
the Greek government in negotiations
with the entente powers are contained
in reports received from Athens by
way Of Sofia. according to the Over.
seas News Agency. These reports
state that the number OF Greek re-
servists voluntarily enlisting in the
service of King Constantine has in
creased and now attains a consider
able total
Greece demands unhampered 40
ton by the Greek government in old
Greece, the return OF all railroad lines
to Larissa, that all telegraph and tele-
phone stations shall be placed in
Greek hands. the withdrawal of the
entente troops from Greek soil in the
whole district south Of Larissa, the
restoration of confiscated Greek mer-
chant ships and the abolition of the
blockade against the importation OF
food"
German peace overtures rouse
storm Of comment throughout the
world. Allied capitals little inclined
to regard them seriously. although
some portions of the British press
urge that they be given dignified con-
sideration.