New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-25

pebruarv 4; inbound with mails; no
passengers. Cargo, 5000 tons OF wheat
and 500 tons Of flour consigned TO the
Dutch government.
Jacatra, sunk, arrived Falmouth Feb
rusry z; inbound; no mails, no pas
seneers, Cargo, 1900 tons OF wheat
consigned TO the Dutch government.
Eem!snd, afoat, arrived Falmouth
January 25; outward bound In ballast.
Bandoeng, ahoat, arrived Falmouth
February 2; inbound; no passengers.
Cargo, 500 tons fodder cake, 200 tons
eopra, l.100 tons oil seed, l50 tons
coffee and 600 tons Of tobacco.
Zaandijk, shoat, acrlyed Falmouth
February .; outbound in ballast.
Menado, towed to Falmouth, arrived
Falmouth February IL; inbound; no
mails, no passengers. Cargo, 2,7O0 tons
OF coprs, 400 tons Of fodder, 800 tons
of oil seed and 450 tons Of tobacco.
All the steamers we're torpedoed
about p. IN. Thursday in the western
approaches 70 the English Channel. All
were carrying the usual Dutch ensigns
and showing their usual lights Two
the Eemlamd and the Gaesterland-
we're bound for America TO load grain
for the Dutch government.
It is believed unfortunate that the
vessels were not sailing in the Lanes
Of safety" to which Lord Curzon re-
Gently referred. The Dutch govern
ment has full responsibility for their
movements.
This morning 200 men of the crews,
the remainder of whom 1t IS hoped are
safe, arrived in London. They will be
sent home as soon as possible.
Germany Explains
An official statement from Berlin. re
ceived In Amsterdam and forwarded DIV
Reuter- repeats the statement issued
by the German Legation at The Hague
concerning the torpedoing OF the Dutch
steamers, and adds:
ETbe responsibility for IL falls on
the ship owners, who preferred to SEND
ont their vessels on February % on the
promise of relative security, instead
Of waiting until March II, when aoso-
lutte security was promised. Inc re-
bort Of our submarines has not get
arrived" IL
SAYS Reuter- dispatch from the Dutch
capital, has issued q long explanation
bfthe torpedoing Of the seven Dutch
steamers, in which it says:
HThe date for the safe homecoming
81 Dutch vessels from English ports,
which ut first was fixed for February D,
vas subsequently, in view Of the situa-
tiop in Holland, postponed to February
q and February II. On February IA
Dutch ship owners were Informed that
tbeir vessels could leave In group on
february 90 or March H..
aFor those vessels leaving on Febru-
.ry ss only relative safety could be
xunrent.ed, but vessels leaving on
dsrcL ~ would have an absolute guar
sntee against submarine attacks, as u
vouid be impossible By February % to
inform with certainty all submarine
commanders of the concessions mace
to Holland"
Officer Describes Attack
An officer of one of the torps6oed
steamers said:
proaeh 10 the English Channel when
we picked up the crew OF q Norwegian
stesmer. Just afterward U-oost ap-
pesred on the scene and apparently AZ
irst was only noticed by one OF our
sLios- which stopped, the others going
on The submarine fired torpedo,
which lust missed our ship, then tlred
run shots overhead until we all
The submarine came up TO each ship
and said we must enter the boats
within fv. minutes, as he was going. to
ink us, because we were in English
waters. We had barely time to leave
the ships before the Germans began
their work. But all the crews, | be-
Iieve, got of safely. After being on
the water for several hours we we're
rescued by trawlers and landed"