The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-03-14
No WARNING WAS
GIVEN AMERICAN
SHIP ALGONQUIN
Crew Saved Without Aid
From U-Boat That
Sunk Steamer.
CARGO Was CONTRABAND
Details Yet Lacking But
Washington is Not Ex-
cited Over Incident.
tRy Associated Prespl


LONDON, March 1.-THE American
steamship Algonquin has been torpe-
doed by a German submarine. The
crew was saved.
The Algonquin was torpedoed with
out warning at 6 o'clock on the morn
ing OF March u, according TO a report
made by the American consul at Ply
mouth. The consul says all on board
were saved.
The submarine refused assistance
according to the consul.
NEW YORK, March 1.-THE AIgon.
quin, owned by the American Star line
Of this city, was recently transferred
from British registry. She was re-
ported TO have about 10 Americans In
her crew. Officers Of the line said the
vessel was worth approximately $780,
600 and the cargo which consisted
mostly OF food stun worth more than
$1,250,0OO.
Where the torpedoing took place
has not been learned. The boat was
one Of the first American freighters
to sail from the United States after
Germany announced her submarine
campaign OF Unrestricted warfare. She
was commanded by Capt. A, Nordberg,
a naturalized American of Norwegian
birth. She was vessel Of 1906 tons
gross, 235 feet long and 40 foot beam.
She was built in Glasgow in 1888,
Prior to. sailing the Algonqufn,s cap
tain said he had no fear that his vessel
would be torpedoed. II feel safer IN
sailer through the war zone on a yes
sci flying the American flag than i do,
trying to make my way about New
York streets and lodging taxi cabs.
he said.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March H.
In the absence of official dispatches on
the destruction Of the steamer Algon-
quin officials withheld comment, but
the unofficial view was that nothing IN
the incident changes the situation be-
tween the United States and Germany.
President Wilson already has taken
steps to place the nation in state Of
armed neutrality which with the break
ing of diplomatic relations is practi-
cally the last measure possible short
of war.
American ships now are being armed
to defend themselves against uniaw-
full submarine attack. The general re-
view today is that the arming Of ships
is the only answer to the submarine
operations short OF a declaration of
wer, which may be made only by Con-
gress.
The circumstance that the Algonquin
carried food stun which are contra
band and that she recently was trans,
ferred from British to American regis
try, transaction Germany might
plead she would not recognize, are not
taken to outweight the fact that the
ship was reported to have bean de-
stroyed without warning. Neither
does the fact that apparently no lives
were list mitigate the situation.
But the real fact as unofficially ex-
pressed is that while destruct ton OF
American ship in such manner is seri-
Gus the American government has al
ready taken all the steps It can take
to meet such case unless it wishes
to take the last step and declare war.
The real issue of peace or wa is ex.
pccted to come when an American
armed ship has had clash with Ger
man submarine. Up to the present in
the absence of action by Congress all
that could be done to meet such case
as the destruction of the Algonquin al
ready has been done. It is generally
accepted on first report as not being
the covert act"