Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-11
Torpedoing Confirmation
Awaits Survivors, Stories
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The State Department sought
first hand confirmation today of
survivors reports that the mer-
chairman Robin Moor. flying the
American flag, was sent to the bot
tom by a torpedo from German
submarine.
At first glance. informed sources
said, the unofficial information thus
far available made the sinking of
the 5,000-ton vessel appear an out
right challenge to the historic
American doctrine of freedom of
the seas
Government officials. however, re-
fused to discuss the question Of &C
ton until formal reports were re-
ceived from diplomatic represent
atives in Brazil who are to question
the II known survivors when they
land at Recife.
Steamer Due at Port Tonight.
The Brazilian steamer Ozorio,
with the survivors aboard, is due TO
IIldhC llldb pOL l a. . pin ". -. L -
tonight. The fact that three of the
rescued men were ships officers in
creased official hopes here of OBJ
tanning an authentic, detailed &C
count of the Robin Moor's end in
the South Atlantic. midway between
Dakar and Natal, Brazil, on May 81
The ship was en- route from New
York to South Africa.
Meanwhile, the passing hours
brought no word of the other IS per-
sons who were aboard the ship and
took to three lifeboatS when she
went down. They have been missing
three weeks today and their chances
of survival grew steadily more re-
mote.
The statement Of the known sur
vivors that a U-boat torpedoed the
Robin Moor was radioed to the AS
sociated Press at Rio de Janeiro last
night by Capt. Waldemar Lucio Pc
reira. master of the rescue ship
Ozorio. His terse message read:
Survivors said the Robin Moor
was torpedoed by a German sub
marine"
This was the first positive in
formation on the source of the re-
port that an underseas raider had
destroyed the ship. Previous mes
sages had given no authority for
statements that a U-boat was re-
sponsible.
If it should be established without
doubt that the Robin Moor was a
victim of Nazi sea warfare. diplo-
matte quarters here said that the
situation created would be without
precedent in the present war.
If the unofficial reports are borne
out. they said, the Robin Moor would
be the first American ship to be the
victim of direct belligerent action
since the outbreak of the war. One
other American ship was sunk by a
mine off Australia several months
ago.
The belief was expressed that the
United States probably would call on
Germany for an explanation-more
than likely in a note couched in the
language of warning.
On the basis of existing lnforma-
ton, diplomatic sources said That
circumstances indicated that the
Robin Moor had been sunk without
warning and that the raider ignored
the search and seizure procedure
prescribed by international law. Sec
rotary of Navy Knox has condemned
such sinkings as pirate warfare.
Another point that would be rele-
want, they said, was that the Robin
Moors cargo contained no NUM-
tons of war, according to the defini-
sion accepted by the United States.
1t was noted further that Stephen
Early, White House secretary. while
avoiding any discussion of the cause
of the sinking, told reporters 1t
seemed clear that it occurred lin
American waters-on this side of the
Atlantic"