The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-15
Boat Grew Thought it Anus
ing That Americans Were
Forced to Take to the
Life Boats.
HAULED DOWN THE FLAG
Steamer Sycamore Which Left eos.
ton February 81, With Food
for England, Has Been
Sunk.

limited Press Leased Wire service.1
LONDON, March 15.-London Is
past expecting anything but the worst
from German submarine commanders,
but nevertheless. reports Of some OF
the details OF the sinking OF the
American steamer Algonquin aroused
indignation here today.
Survivors stories showed the U
boat crew laughed at the plight OF the
survivors when they refused any aid
in towing the ships life boats nearer
shore. The AlgonQuin's crew was
almost used up when picked up,
owing to twenty-seven hours siren
uous pulling at the oars afloat They
insisted the submarine (which was
yariously identified as the U-36 and
the U-39. sent a rain OF shells at the
Algonquin from considerable dis
tance and seemed bent particularly
on demolishing life boats by this
salvo, before approaching near
enough to finish off the vessel.
Then the Germans went aboard,
promptly hauled down the American
flag and then exploded bombs in
the ships hold.
List Of Vessels.
Stone. chairman of the senate foreign
relations committee, who opposed the
armed neutrality bill, today offered
resolution which was unanimously
adopted, asking the secretary Of COM
merce to supply the senate list OF
all "sea-going vessels" that have ap-
piled to this government for registra-
ton.
1t asked a full list of all sea-going
vessels which have applied for registry
under the laws Of the United States;
what vessels have been granted regis
tration between Jan. |, 1916 and
March IS. 1917; name and character
of vessels before application was
made: the name under which regis
tration was granted; name Of the ma
tfon and flag which 1t operated under
prior to the application; name of per
son or persons. association or corpora
ton applying for registration and ex-
act date of application and issuance OF
the registry.
While Stone at first refused to dis
cuss his resolution, 1t is believed it
is a preliminary step in the campaign
to prevent foreign owners of vessels
from hurriedly registering their boats
under the American flag to take ad-
vantage or the privilege or armtng
them, a privilege denied by several
neutrals.
Sycamore Is Sunk.
BOSTON, Mass, March 15.--Fur-
ness Witty and company, steamship
agents, received advices today that
the steamship Sycamore, bound for
Liverpool has been sunk. The COM
pany stated that no word regarding
the conditions of the sinking had
been received.
The Sycamore is listed as a steel
screw steamer Of 5,179 tons built in
1892. registered at Liverpool and
owned by the White Diamond Steam
ship company limited.
The Sycamore left Boston for Liv-
erpool on February twenty-frst and
was due to arrive in England, March
seventh. Her cargo consisted of
grain. foodstuffs and general sup
piles. mostly consigned to the British
government, but no munitions were
on board.
The captain in command was P.
Cummins. Captain Fenton having
missed his first trip in twenty-five
years by being detained in England
in connection with an inquiry over
the collision of the Sycamore with
the Kelvindale off Liverpool some
months ago.
No details have been received as to
where or when the sinking occurred.