The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-17
AMERICAN VESSEL
SUNK BY U.BOAT
WITHOUT WARNING
U. S. Consul at Plymouth, Eng
land, Reports to Washington
the Crew Was Saved.
STEAMER WAS NOT ARMED
Washington Officials Declare the Act
Simply Has Brought the United
States "Closer to Hostilities"
Far They Would Go.

80 ivy sN~NtA NV
Washington, March 15.-The Amer
lean steamer Algonquin was sunk with
out warning by German submarine,
but the crew was saved, according to
report to the state department by
American Consul Joseph G. Stephens,
stationed at Plymouth, England. The
consul's meager dispatch promised
"details LATER"
London, March 15.-Attacked with
out warning the American steamer AL
!, gonquin has been sunk by German
submarine. The captain and eight
members of the crew are Americans
All on board the vessel were saved.
Early reports stated the Algonquin
was torpedoed. American Consul
Stephens at Plymouth, however, has
reported that the vessel was sunk by
shell fire. Other dispatches from Ply
mouth stated that the submarine sud
denly appeared about 1000 yards from
the steamer and began firing without
warming The ship did not sink at
once and men were dispatched from
the submarine to send the Algonquin
to the bottom with bombs. The crew
of the Algonquin were afforded plenty
of time to escape while the bombs
were being placed aboard the ship.
The ship was unarmed.
The Algonquin sailed from this port
on February 20 with a cargo valued
at 81 100000. The ship itself was
appraised at $4,000. 1t was COIN
manded by Capt. A. Norberg, natur-
allied Norwegian.
Closer to Actual War.
Washington March 15.-Sinking of
the American steamer Algonquin by a
/ German submarine simply has brought
the United States ''closer to actual hos
tilities."
That is as far as officials would go
An incident such as the loss of the
| American Star liner has been expect
ed. Sinking of half a dozen Other
craft will surely come. But none OF
them is armed. They do not include
In their sailings the EARNED neutrality
which President Wilson has outlined
will be the reply of the United States
/ to German aggression and ruthless
ness"
What Act of War Is.
Germany must accept responSibilit.
for the next move by this government
When she sinks an armed American
liner-armed under International Law
for defense--she will commit an act o
war. officials made this very plain
They pointed out that up to the pres
ent the attitude of the United State
was one Of tolerance.
That tolerance will end when Amer
lean vessels protected by American
J sailors are attacked. Secretary o
State Lansing, when asked whethe
the sinking of the Algonquin mean
any sudden action by the Unite'
States. characterized it as an "addi
tionaI straw to the camefs back"
That is the attitude of the Unite'
States. There can be no deviation
from the plans as outlined by Presi
dent Wilson.
Others to Follow China.
The policy of the United States ah
solurely hinges on it's enforcement 0
it's plans of armed neutrality. SUI
port Of this plan is Indicated by tn
action of China in breaking off diplo
: matte relations with Germany. Othe
neutrals will shortly do the same, in
formation reaching here says. An
the outcome will be far reaching
Affidavits by members of the GREY
of the Belgian relief steamer Stol
stadt. forwarded to the state depart
ment by American Consul Frost q
Queenstown establishes the Norwegia
> vessel was sunk without warning by
) German submarine despite the fac
! that she displayed Belgian relief en-
3 blems painted on her sides.
? It was emphasized that the Unite
. States is not party to any negotl'
] lions with Germany to change her sal
r marine methods. This announeemef
In official quarters followed report
from Scandinavian sources that &c
many was considering modification
( her blockade program to mollify tn
al government.
i. The last word so far as the Unite
States is concerned, was uttered whe
Count Won Bernstorff was dismisse
Unless Germany of her own volltit
restores her methods of warfare
: limits permitted by international la'
s there will be no change whatever
the armed neutrality" policy ~&sss'