Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1915 — LOST SHIP WAS ON ADMIRALTY MISSION [ARTICLE]

LOST SHIP WAS ON ADMIRALTY MISSION

Britain Informs Page Armenian Was On War Business. TRIED TO ESCAPE FROM FOE Steamer Sunk by German Submarine Attempted to Elude Fast Craft —Torpedoes and Shells Sent Boat to Bottom. Washington, July 2—The British admiralty has informed Ambassador Page in London that the steamship Armenian, sunk by a German submarine, with the loss of 21 American lives, was engaged in admiralty business, and that she carried no passengers. This information was cabled by Ambassador Page to the state department. The ambassador suggested that the Americans who were lost with the Armenian appeared therefore to have been members of her crew. Incident Creates Stir. The Incident being the first involving American lives since the sinking of the Lusitania, created considerable stir in official circles, but no one in authority would sa.w, pending receipt of official facts in the case, what effect it would have on the negotiations between this country and Germany. Ambassador Page at London was asked to obtain the facts from the British government and Ambassador Gerard in Berlin was directed to make similar inquiry of the German authorities. The dispatches forwarded to the state department by Consul Armstrong at Bristol also were forwarded to President Wilson at Cornish, N. H., and word from him relative to the course to pursue was awaited by officials here. There was a disposition in some offi cial quarters to believe that the Armenian attempted to escape after being warned. This view was based on Consul Armstrong's report that a second shot “carried away the wireless station’’ of the ship. Should tills be found to have been the case, officials stated, Germany may be able to justify the sinking of the ship. Mules Are Contraband. Mules are contraband of war under all the lists published by the belligerents and it was conceded at the state department that no doubt can be raised as to the character of the Armenian's cargo. By CAPTAIN TRICKEY OF THE STEAMSHIP ARMENIAN. London, July 2.—When the subma/ rlne first sighted us, four miles off, she put a couple of shots over our deck as a signal to stop. We turned and ran. Then began a desperate race. The submarine began to shell us in earnest and I soon found he was gaining but I had no intention of giving up the struggle. Shrapnel was bursting all around us. Several of the crew were killed while others were knocked overboard. Soon I discovered my steering gear was hit, which put us out of commission. Then a shell fell into the engine room; another carried away the Marconi house, and a third cut down the funnel, disabling the stokers and preventing them from keeping up steam. Then I decided to surrender for the ship was on fire in three places. The running fight had been in progress for about fifteen miles and an hour’s time. Twelve or thirteen men lay dead on the deck. The submarine drew up alongside and I was told to clear ship. At seven minutes past eight the Armenian went down, shattered by two torpedoes. I must say the submarine commander showed us every fairness after we had given up, picking up many of the crew who because of a damaged boat had fallen into the water. Most of the crew and muleteers who perished were Americans, most of them negroes.