The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-03-23
OVERT ACT HAS SURELY COME

p. m. today. Thirty-four survivors on
admiralty vessel which continues
search for eight missing"
A second dispatch from Consul
Frost said that 33 survivors of the
City of Memphis had landed at Queens
town and that seven Americans were
among the Is landed at Schulz.
International lawyers and constitu-
tional experts here showed no hest
fancy in saying that President Will
son has full authority to interpret
this as an act Of war, and announce
that this country considers that an
actual state of war exists by reason
Of Germany's fragrant assault on Amer
lean shipping.
Such action would be subject to the
approval of Congress.
German Threat Carried Out.
Despite the unwarned sinking of big
passenger liners like the California
and the Laconia, the jeopardizing Of
Americans on nearly score of other
vessels, and the sinking of three other
American ships, the Housatonic, the
Lyman M. Law, and the Algonquin
since the unrestricted warfare began,
some officials, inspired by the Presi-
dents announced reluctance to be-
lieve that Germany would carry
through her threat, have chung desper-
ately to the hope that some slight re-
spect for international law might still
be shown.
German sea warfare might fairly be
stated, however, to have surpassed
even the most pessimistic forecasts
here. That she actually means to send
every vessel to the bottom that dares
to venture within her forbidden zones
is now accepted as a fact.
Owned In Savannah.
London, March 2O.-The vigilancia,
sunk by German U-boat, was owned
by Walker, Armstrong & Co., of Sc
vannah, and sailed from New York
for the Azores and Havre on Febru-
airy %. She was 4,115 tons burden.
The Vigilancia was plainly marked
as an American vessel Her cargo is
valued at $750,000 and the ship at
more than $1,000,000. It is reported
that a large consignment of collins
was on board.
The City of Memphis was sunk 35
miles south of Fastnet with the Stars
and Stripes painted on both sides.
The submarine commander ordered
the crew to leave the ship within Is
minutes. Five boats were manned
and torpedo sank the ship. The
boats became separated and three of
them were picked up by patrol ves-
sci and taken ashore. They contained
33 men.
This ship was owned by the Ocean
Steamship company Of Savannah. She
left there January % for Havre with
cotton. From that port she went to
Cardiff and was on her way home in
ballast when sunk. She weighed s.
252 tons.
Illinois Crew Picked Up.
The tanker Illinois was in ballast
for Port Arthur, Texas, from London.
Her crew was picked up.
The Illinois was owned by the Tex
as company Of New York and sailed
from Port Arthur February II for Lon
don. She was of 5,225 tons gross.
Third Engineer Thompson of the
City of Memphis in an interview said
that the submarine fired q warning
shot for the steamer to slow down and
subsequently signalled for her to stop
and for the crew to abandon the ship.
Ten Shells Fired First.
Ten or eleven shells were fired at
the vessel which began to sink. Then
followed a terrific explosion which
caused the vessel to tremble all over
and within 20 minutes she sank, stern
first. This seemingly would indicate
that the steamer was torpedoed after
she had been shelled.