Gilpin observer., 1917-05-24

without warning. A survivor of the
French steamship Louisiana, torpedoed
fifteen minutes previously 800 yards
away, swore he saw the submarine.
There were seven Americans in the
crew of the Silius, and one was injured.
The next great passenger ship de.
stroyed was the Dutch vessel TubaLty
tia. While in the North sea, sailing to
Rio de Janeiro, an explosion rent the
ship asunder, and she sank. Three
Americans were passengers. All per-
sons on board were saved except one
Russian. Germany disclaimed respon-
sibility. The Dutch government made
an investigation which indicated SUBJ
marine attack.
On March IS, 1915, the British steam
ship Berwindvale, with four Americans
on board, was torpedoed without warn
ing Off Bantry, Ireland, but no lives
We're lost.
On March "a, 1916, a German SUBJ
marine chased the Dominion steam
ship Englishman, bound from Avon
mouth to Portland, Me-, and while the
ship, shot away her starboard life
boats. After more firing, as the crew
was leaving the ship, the submarine
torpedoed and sank her. One Ameri-
can of the crew was among the ten
lost.
elimination Of Atrocities.
On the same day came the culmina-
tiOn Of the long list of submarine out
RACES which caused President Wilson
to lay the whole situation before con-
gress, and to notify Germany that un-
less such methods of warfare positive
ly were discontinued and declared ut
an end. the United States would break
OFF diplomatic relations. 1t was the
destruction of the French Channel
steamship Sussex, between Folkestone
and Dieppe. Every bit of evidence
went to prove that the ship was tor
pedoed without warning.
On March 81, 1916. the British ship
Manchester Engineer, outbound from
Philadelphia, was torpedoed and sunk
without warning 13 miles south of
Waterford. Two American negroes
were in the crew of 33. All on board
were rescued.
On March % the British steamship
Eagle Point was shelled by German
submarine 100 miles south of Queens.
town. The Eagle Point gave up her
attempt to escape, and her crew of AZ,
which included one American, took to
the boats in a heavy swell and
stormy wind. Finally all were saved.
The submarine sank the ship with a
torpedo.
After Germany gave her promises as
the result of the Sussex notes, there
was temporary lull in submarine
warfare, but within a few weeks 1t
began again.
The next development came when
Germany carried the submarine war to
the American side of the Atlantic. On
Saturday October z, 1916, the German
war submarine U-53 entered Newport
harbor unannounced, delivered pack
age Of mail for the German embassy
and departed as swiftly as she had
come. Within the next 4S hours she
sank six ships within sight of the
American coast-four British, one
Dutch and one Norwegian. With the
assistance Of the American destroyer
flotilla, all lives were saved. 1t ap-
peared that in each case the subma.
rfne commander had given legal warm
Ing and permitted the escape of pas.
sengers.
Americans Endangered.
On October 26, 1915, the British
merchant ship Rowanmore was at
tackled by a German submarine, fed,
was overhauled and destroyed by gun.
fire. There was no loss of life, al-
though two Americans and five Fill
pinos (naturalized Americans), the
only Americans aboard. declared the
submarine shelled the lifeboats as they
were leaving the ship.
On October 30 the British ship Ma.
rina, bound for the United States, was
torpedoed and, of more than fifty
Americans on board six were lost.
Then followed the attack on the
American steamship Chemung, the loss
of II Americans on the steamship Rus
sian, and finally came the notice that
a campaign of ruthlessness was to be-
gin February l, irrespective of the con-
sequences. The decision to break Off
diplomatic relations with Germany fol-
lowed.