Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-08
U.BOAT TORPEDOES
AMERICAN SHIP
Housatonic Sunk, but Rules of
International Law We're
Observed to Letter.

Washington, Feb. 4.--Thc possibility
that the sinking of the American steamer
Housatonc will become "a serious factor
in the crisis with Germany apparently
was eliminated to-day by evidence that
the attacking submarine acted within in
ternational law. American Consul
Stephens at plymouth reported that warm
ing was given and provision made for
safety of the crew.
London. Feb. A.-Thc crew Of the Amer
lean steamship IIousatonic has been land
ed at Penzancc, England. The itousa-
tonic was warned by the German subma =
rinc which sank her. according to John
q. Stevens, American consul at rcnzancc.
Mr. Stevens to-day sent the following
telegram to the Associated Press:
Total crew of q of Housatonic landed
at Ponzanco Saturday. Vessel torpcdoed
by n German submarine 1870 Saturday.
Warned. Crew towed 30 minutes by sub
marine toward land"
Mr. stevens telegraphed to-day to Rob-
ert p. Skinner, the American consul gen
eral. that the Housatonic was halted by
German submarine at noon and that.
after being warned. the crew took to the
boats The HoMsatonic was then torpe-
doed and sunk and the submarine lowed
the boats to a point off the English
coast.
London, Feb. 4-When hailed by the
subma rine the Housatonic was dying the
American flag and had the American col
ors painted on her SIDE, says despatch
to the Central News. The crew was given
an hour in which to leave tho ship, the
submarine commander saying: II have
orders to sink every vessel coming to
England"
The Germans searched the Housatonic
and took quantity of soap, which they
said was difficult to obtain. The second
mate of the Housatonic was second-mate
of the American steamer Gulflight when
that vessel was sunk by a German sub
marine off the Scilly islands early in the
war.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 4-As tine Housatonc
was carrying contraband. any controversy
over her destruction is expected to present
iio moro ccrious an issue than claim
| for monetary damages. If the consuls
report is correct. the case apparently
falls into the same category as that of
the American ship william p. Frye. de-
stroyed with a cargo of grain early II
the war by a raider after her crew had
| been taken off.
Consul Stephens despatch said:
/
with cargo of wheat for the British
government. torpedoed by German sub
marine 1890 February 3. Vessel warned
and total crew of 81 rescued by subma
rine and lowed for 90 minutes towards
| land. Subma rine fired signal to British
patrol boat. which subsequently LANDED
crew at Penzance.'
In some quarters the unusual precau
tons taken to insure a safe landing fol
the crew was taken to mean that inter
national law and Germany's submarine
pledges would be observed more scrupu
lousy than ever in the case of the man,
vessels which were on the high seas a.
the time the new campaign of unrestrict
ed warfare became effective February
In her note announcing the campaign
Germany said immunity from the new
measures of warfare would be EXTENDED
to all ships which had left their HON
ports before the effective date.
Paris, Feb 4-The Spanish steame
Pairra, en- route for Nigo with a carg
of cement, was bombarded by German
submarine. The vessel was badly dam
aged and one sailor was wounded.
London, Feb. 4.--Lloyds reports tn
sinking of the Norwegian steamer Ymel
1891 tons gross. by submarine. Par
of the crew was landed.
The sinking of the Spanish steamer Do
De Noviembre is reported in a Reute
despatch from Madrid. One man wa
drowned.
7 SIZE 81 IN SHOES