passengers died or are unaccounted for and six of the crew, nationality so far unknown, died. Other survivors landed Queenstown. WASHINGTON. No. 305.] Consul Frost to the Secretary of State. [Extract.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Cork, Queenstown, February 28, 1917. SIR: I have the honor to transmit hereby in duplicate (i.e., the original and a copy), affidavits by Father Joseph Wareing and by Robert Gillis, American citizens who survived from the Laconia disaster. I have, etc., WESLEY FROST. [Inclosure 1.] Affidavit of Father Joseph F. Wareing, American Citizen. UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND, Cork (Queenstown), Ireland. February 25, 1917. I, the undersigned, do affirm that the following is a true statement of the torpedoing of the steamship Laconia. According to questions asked: 1. Nationality of submarine. Nationality of submarine: German 2. Whether submarine or torpedo was seen. Submarine was not seen. 3. Locality and distance from shore where ship was torpedoed. Locality and distance from shore, about 200 or 250 miles west of Fastnet. 4. Time of day. Time: About 9.20 p. m. 5. Presence of other boats near by or in sight. At time of torpedoing no other boats near or in sight. 6. Measures taken by submarine to secure safety of crew and pas sengers, as for example towing small boats to shore. No warning given and no measures taken by submarine for safety of crew and passengers whatever. 7. When and how persons on board were rescued. Rescued by small boats of the Laconia, first boat getting away about 10 minutes after first torpedo struck. The last (the Capt's) boat about 20 minutes after first and ten after second torpedo. 8. Whether perils suffered preceding rescue. No perils to speak of were suffered in rescuing. 9. Whether vessel was torpedoed or shelled without warning. Laconia was torpedoed without warning. 10. Whether vessel endeavored to escape or resist submarine. As we were torpedoed without warning there was no possible chance of escape. 11. Whether vessel was torpedoed and shelled after flight and resistance had ceased and before all persons were clear of the ship. We were torpedoed a second time before all passengers were off. 12. Number and character of casualties and particular causes of casualties. Can't say. 13. State weather and sea at time of sinking and preceding rescue. The night was partly cloudy with a moderate wind and sea very choppy at time of sinking. 14. Port of departure and destination of vessel sunk. From New York to Liverpool. 15. Character of cargo. Can't say. 16. Whether Americans on board were passengers or crew. Six American passengers. Two of crew (colored). Witness my hand. REV. JOSEPH F. WAREING. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of February, 1917, in witness whereof I have annexed my hand and seal of office. WESLEY FROST, [Seal of the American Consulate.] [Inclosure 2.] Affidavit of Robert Gillis, American Citizen. UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND, County of Cork, Ireland. I, Robert Gillis, U. S. citizen, being sworn, affirm: I was a night-watchman on the Laconia, when she was torpedoed by a German submarine, 150 miles W. of Fastnet at 9.30 p. m. ship's time, Feb. 25th, 1917. The weather was pretty fair-overcast sky with stars showing very light breeze and slight swells. There was no warning whatever, and could be no attempt to escape. The engines were stopped at impact of first torpedo. About 20-30 minutes were occupied in taking to boats, a second torpedo being fired then. Myself and about 6 officers were the only persons left when it struck, and we took at once to boat. The ship sank about 1 hr. after the first torpedo. We were picked up about 4 a. m., Feb. 26th. The Germans apparently gave us time deliberately between the two torpedoes in order that the passengers and crew might take safely to the boats. ROBERT GILLIS. Subscribed and sworn before me Feb. 27, 1917. WESLEY FROST, Consul of the United States of America. [Seal of the American Consulate.] Consul Washington to the Secretary of State. [Extract.] No. 820.] AMERICAN CONSULATE, Liverpool, March 2, 1917. SIR: Respectfully referring to dispatch No. 8191 of February 28th last and previous correspondence and cables in regard to the destruction of the S. S. Laconia, I have the honor to report that, after conference with the Admiralty's representative in Liverpool and the General Manager of the Cunard Steamship Company, it was thought advisable to telegraph Surgeon Kennedy, of the S. S. Laconia, to come to Liverpool from his home in Ireland in order that the affidavits of himself and third officer Coppin as to the conversation which took place between persons in the lifeboat and those on board the German submarine might be taken from both men at the same time. The two affidavits are sent herewith in duplicate and made inclosures Nos. 1 and 2. I have, etc., HORACE LEE WASHINGTON. Not printed. [Inclosure 1.] Affidavit of Joseph William Coppin, Third Officer on Steamship "Laconia.” KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, CITY OF LIVERPOOL, Consulate of the United States of America. I, Joseph William Coppin, being first duly sworn, do depose and say as follows: I am 35 years of age, a British subject, born at Liskerd, Cornwall, 14th August, 1882, and I reside at Liskerd, Cornwall. I was extra third officer of the Cunard S. S. Laconia and sailed on her from New York Sunday, February 17th, 1917. All went well until the evening of Sunday, the 25th, when at about 9.30 the Laconia was torpedoed by a German submarine. The weather was calm and there was a light wind with a moderate swell. The Laconia was torpedoed without warning. She carried one gun in the stern for defense purposes. Her cargo was mainly cotton. The crew consisted of British and Americans, but I do not know how many Americans there were exactly in the crew or among the passengers. Fifteen minutes after the torpedo hit the Laconia about seven boats were clear of the ship, and I was in No. 13. Shortly after this the submarine fired another torpedo into the Laconia, and then a little while afterwards the submarine came within speaking distance of the life boat in which I was and inquired as to the tonnage of the vessel. The reply from the boat stated the tonnage of the ship at eighteen thousand. The submarine then said a patrol would pick us up. The submarine left us and we were picked up by a patrol boat about 4.30 on Monday morning after suffering seven hours' exposure in an open boat. JOSEPH W. COPPIN. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2nd day of March, 1917. HORACE LEE WASHINGTON, Consul of U. S. of A. at Liverpool, Eng. [Seal of the American Consulate.] [Inclosure 2.] Affidavit of Gerald Leo Kennedy, Surgeon of Steamship "Laconia.” KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, CITY OF LIVERPOOL, Consulate of the United States of America. I, Gerald Leo Kennedy, first being duly sworn, do depose and say as follows: That my name is Gerald Leo Kennedy. That I am twenty-seven years of age. That I am a British subject. That my present address is "Annagh House," Birr, Ireland. That I left New York on that vessel on Saturday, February 17th, bound for Liverpool. That all went well until about 9.30 in the evening of Sunday, February 25th, when without warning the Laconia was torpedoed by a German submarine at a position, which I was afterwards credibly informed, of about two hundred miles from the nearest land. That the cargo of the Laconia was mainly cotton. That the Laconia was armed, having one 4.7 gun in the stern. That the weather at the time was moderate, with rather a heavy swell. That steps were taken immediately to abandon the ship, and I got into lifeboat No. 13 with between forty-five and fifty other persons. That about twenty minutes after we had left the ship the submarine, which in the meantime had fired another torpedo into the Laconia, came alongside, and somebody from the submarine hailed our boat and called "pull alongside." A general conversation in our boat then resulted, a number of people making replies to the general effect of the best method of bringing the boat alongside the submarine. There was a big swell so we were unable to get alongside of the submarine on account of the danger, but we did get within about five yards. The conversation from the submarine was conducted by one man, and this person, as well as I could see, was leaning out of the conning tower. His tone was entirely impersonal. I assume he was the Commander of the submarine. He spoke English fairly well. The first question he asked was "What is the tonnage of your ship?" Somebody forward in the boat replied that the tonnage was 18,000 tons. He then asked the name of the vessel, and it was shouted out generally Laconia. The third question he asked was the tonnage again. There were general replies, repeating the tonnage. He then shouted back, confirming our reply, "18,000 tons." The fourth time he repeated 18,000 tons" with evident pleasure at the size of the ship. It appeared to me that he did not know what was the vessel he had torpedoed, as he seemed particularly pleased on ascertaining that it was so large a ship. His fifth question was, "How many passengers were on board?" We answered 78. I think the next thing he said was that there would be a patrol out in between two or three hours, which would pick us up. The submarine then went on its way. That when we were drawing near the submarine prior to the above recorded conversation taking place, some of the occupants of my lifeboat were fearful that the submarine intended shelling the boat and said excitedly, "They are going to fire on us." I then heard a man on the submarine laughing derisively at the natural apprehension and agitation of the occupants of the boat. |