ahead submarine disappeared and no further sign of her was seen. At this time American flag size ten feet by six feet was flying to breeze on after flagstaff. About 12.50 p. m. heavy explosion occurred starboard side forward. Wireless Operator Short and Seaman Chapenta jumped overboard and were drowned. Remainder crew and officers immediately left ship in lifeboats, were picked up by Iago, and were taken to St. Marys, Scilly Islands, following morning. Captain Gunter died on Iago during night, coroner's inquest determines cause of death as heart failure. Damage to ship consists in large hole starboard side between frames three and seven; extreme dimensions thirtytwo feet longitudinally by twenty-five feet vertically, also eight small holes in port side opposite, largest being four feet by three feet. Forepeak chain locker pump room, forehold, and forward bunker oil tank flooded; damage to cargo confined to five hundred barrels lubricating oil in forehold. Not possible yet to search forehold for fragments. Forehold has therefore been sealed to prevent tampering with view to examination as soon as accessible. Master and chief engineer now with ship. Underwriters representative, on scene, advises temporary measures to correct time and strengthen number eight bulkhead to permit vessel to safely continue voyage to Rouen. Master is acting on his advice. Towers and McBride express qualified opinion that injury is probably due to torpedo explosion. In conversation they express a moral though not technical certainty that ship was torpedoed. Consul at Plymouth should be instructed to permit vessel to proceed under Captain Smith with alien officers and crew if other persist in refusal to return to ship. PAGE. Ambassador Gerard to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, May 7, 1915. German Admiralty has as yet no news as to Gulflight. Will report as soon as information obtained. GERARD. No. 2068.] Ambassador W. H. Page to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mr. Page reports that it appears that Captain of Gulflight complied, without raising any question, with the signals of British patrol boats to proceed under their convoy. Further inquiries are being made of British Admiralty. No. 2095.] Ambassador W. H. Page to the Secretary of State. [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mr. Page amplifying his report on the vessel Gulflight states that he is informed by the British Government that no mines anywhere in the vicinity of the Scilly Islands have been laid by the British authorities. Ambassador W. H. Page to the Secretary of State. No. 2105.] [Telegram-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Mr. Page reports that it is stated by Captain Smith of the vessel Gulflight that the conversation between the commander of the British patrol boat Filey and the late Captain Gunter of the Gulflight was to the effect that Captain Gunter in stating that the Gulflight was bound for Rouen inquired when a French pilot could be secured. The patrol boat replied that a French pilot could not be secured there and the Gulflight was directed to follow the patrols to the Bishop Rock. In reply to Mr. Page's inquiry the British Admiralty states that the convoying ships are now at sea out of communication but as soon as they return the details will be obtained. No. 2166.] CASE OF THE "NEBRASKAN.”1 Ambassador W. H. Page to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, (Received) May 26, 1915. 2166. Urgent. Report at midnight last night to British Admiralty from Landsend state that American steamer Nebraskan torpedoed 40 miles south by west of Southcliffe, crew taking to boats. British trawler standing by now reports Nebraskan still afloat and making for Liverpool with four holds full of water. No lives reported lost. PAGE. Ambassador W. H. Page to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] No. 2172.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, British Admiralty have report from Queenstown that Nebraskan is now on her way to Liverpool under her own steam and is being escorted. I am sending naval attaché to Liverpool to examine the ship, which it now appears was outward bound from Liverpool for Delaware Breakwater at the time she was torpedoed. Consul General Skinner to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] PAGE. AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL, Greene, master of American steamer Nebraskan, in wireless addressed to me via Landsend, reports: Nebraskan passed Fastnet Rock Tuesday 4.33 p. m. from Liverpool bound to Delaware Breakwater in ballast at 8.24 p. m. When steamer 1 1 For additional correspondence concerning the Nebraskan, see Special Supplement, 1916, p. 162. was about 48 miles west half south from Fastnet she experienced violent shock followed instantly by terrific explosion bursting hatches and throwing hatch beam cargo derricks and twisted iron into air filling lower hold forward completely with water. Crew immediately took to boats. After standing by ship one hour returned on board and at 10.30 started for Liverpool. About 1.25 a. m. met two vessels sent by British Admiralty in answer to our wireless call and one has been in attendance ever since. It was dusk when explosion occurred. Flag had been hauled down five minutes before. Steamer's name painted on both sides ship in letters six feet tall. Had no warning and saw nothing. SKINNER. Consul Washington to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Nebraskan chartered White Star Line, water ballast. Shock followed by explosion 8.24 evening May 25, latitude 51.14 N., longitude 10.52 W. Captain and officer watch say flag lowered ten minutes before explosion. Chief engineer only person saw track approaching torpedo. Captain, officer watch, and chief engineer say light time explosion sufficient see two thousand feet. Name and port painted both sides letters six feet high. Lieutenant Towers, Constructor McBride making further examination Nebraskan to-day. They will photograph in dry dock next week. WASHINGTON. No. 383.] Consul Washington to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN CONSULATE, SIR: I have the honor to report that information having been obtained that the Nebraskan was due on the evening of the 27th instant, arrangements were made to board her through the courtesy of the White Star Company as she arrived at the Mersey Bar. The Assistant Naval Attaché, Lieutenant Towers, arrived in Liverpool under instructions from the Embassy in the early afternoon, the White Star Line courteously allowing him and Mr. McBride, of the Construction Corps, U. S. N., who accompanied him, to also proceed on the tug to the Bar to meet the Nebraskan. Affidavits were taken of the Captain, the officer on watch at the time of the explosion, and of the Chief Engineer, the only person on board who saw any indication of a torpedo approaching the ship. The captain of the Nebraskan later told me that a reluctance to make an affidavit, which I had observed on the ship, of the Chief Engineer, was due to the fact that he was, by reason of the sentiments which he entertained, disinclined to state that he had seen anything that indicated that the vessel was struck by a torpedo, presumably fired by a submarine of a country with which he was in sympathy. These affidavits will be delivered to the Embassy in London by the Assistant Naval Attaché, it being understood that the contents will be more rapidly transmitted to the Department, and also that as the Ambassador had instructed the Assistant Naval Attaché to proceed to Liverpool to investigate that the affidavits should be taken by him to the Ambassador. A brief summary of the information listed in the affidavits is that the Nebraskan at 8.24 p. m. May 25th, while in Latitude 51.14 N., Longitude 10.52 W., experienced a severe shock, and that after a short but marked interval there was a loud explosion, which did serious damage to the fore part of the vessel, fortunately hurting no one seriously. The Nebraskan was under charter by the White Star Company for the return voyage and was proceeding in water ballast with no cargo to the Delaware Breakwater. It was early dusk when the explosion took place; there was also moonlight, and the words "NEBRASKAN of New York" were painted. in white letters six feet tall on each side of the ship. It was the opinion of the Captain that objects were clearly visible for at least 2,000 feet. The American flag had been flown since leaving Liverpool until about ten minutes before the explosion occurred. It was immediately after the explosion rehoisted. The crew left the vessel, but returned in an hour's time. The Nebraskan was escorted to the Mersey Bar, and the Captain is to-day writing a letter to the Admiralty expressing appreciation, |