The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-03-31
ANOTHERU.S.SHIP
SUNK BY GERMANS
The Oil Steamer HeaIdton Sent
Down Without Warning Off
Coast of Holland.
TWEETY-OHE OF CREW DROWN
Big Tanker Was in Safety Zone When
Torpedoed-Left America Be-
fore Kaiser's Edict.


Washington, March 23.-American
Consul Mahin at Amsterdam .cabled
the State Department tonight that the
American steamer Healdton, sunk by
submarine yesterday off Terschel-
ling, Holland, was torpedoed without
warning and that twenty of the crew
were drowned.
The consuPs dispatch follows:
STANDARD Oil ship Healdton, from
Philadelphia for Rotterdam cargo oil,
torpedoed without warning at SIS
evening of 21st, twenty-five miles
north of Terschelling, Holland. Twen-
ty of crew drowned. One died of in
juries. Others (taken) to north of
Holland Submarine seen after tor
pedoing. More details to follow"
Ship Was Unarmed.
The sinking of the Healdton adds
another grave chapter to the story Of
war waged against American shipping
by Germany to be laid before congress
by President Wilson at the special
session he has called for April 2. 1t
can cause no immediate change in the
situation. Since the destruction of
three American ships last Saturday
and Sunday administration officials
have considered that a state of war
existed, and it is to meet this situation
that congress has been summoned to
authorize steps beyond the arming of
merchantmen.
The HeaIdton was Unarmed. having
left port before the President author
lied the navy to furnish guns and gun
ners to merchantmen. Her fate serves
to heighten the profound interest with
which the government and the public
awaits the time when an American
vessel prepared and ready to send
shell into a hostile submarine on sight
will enter the war zone.
Zones Mean Nothing Now.
Vice-Consul Kroh, at Rotterdam, ad-
vised the State Department tonight of
the sinking by gunfire from a Ger
man submarine of the Dutch tank
steamer La Campine with an Ameri-
can captain, Gustav Claude, March Is,
in the North Sea safety zone" The
crew was saved.
The feeling in all quarters here Is
that the United States has with inf
mite patience and forbearance done
everything possible with honor to
avoid the virtual state Of war now
existing So long as German aggres-
sion continues, officials say there is
nothing to be done but adopt meas
ures of defense, and no basis exists
for discussion.
During the ten days that must
Rafora -
response to his ca1, President Wilson
will give close personal attention to
the preparations going forward
through the War and Navy depart
ments. He saw no callers today, but
was in touch with both of the depart
ments. He signed a formal proclama-
ton suspending the S-Hour Law as
applied to plants engaged on naval
work, a step authorized by Congress
as part of the general plans for
speeding up construction.
Berlin Expects War Declaration.
Washington, March 22.-The posi-
bility that Germany may anticipate
any move by the United States in this
direction by a declaration Of war on
the United States is forecast in Ber-
I'LL dQF1CSS 10 the SII6CI In6L Der
lin the belief is current that a state
of war with the United States will be
an accomplished fact within forty
eight hours.
The calling of congress in special
session on April 2, two weeks in ad-
vance Of the original call, constitutes
a momentous occurrence which over
shadows all other news connected
with the war. President Wilson has
summoned congress to deal with
grave questions of national policy"
The President is expected to declare
that a state of war has existed with
Germany for some time and also it is
expected that congress viii declare a
state of war to exist and give the
President authority to use the armed
forces of the country.
Journalists Warned.
London, March 22.-According to
private kilograms from Berlin to the
Amsterdam Bourst, it is expected that
a state of war with the United States
will be an accomplished fact within
forty-eight hours, says a dispatch to
the Exchange Telegraph from Amster-
dam, American journalists in Ber-
lin" the dispatch adds, have been
warned to this effect by the foreign
office"