pedoed her, but vessel did not sink until two forty p. m. Rowanmore had wirelessed the Finland, thirty miles away, warning her to keep away, also wirelessed other vessels. British Admiralty vessel came to rescue eleven forty-five a. m. Crew landed Lantry ten a. m., twentyseventh. Seven Americans, of whom five are Filipinos, other two are native Americans, George Murphy, seven hundred forty Jefferson Avenue, Brooklyn, and Albert Sessler, forty-two Sharon Street, Boston. Both rated trimmers. Their affidavit is taken. Took statement first officer Watson, but could not complete it formally, as he had only two hours in Cork. Rowanmore had gross tonnage six thousand seven hundred five. Mr. Grew is instructed to bring the matter to the attention of the German Government for investigation and to report as soon as possible. No. 740.] Vice Consul Watson to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN CONSULATE, Liverpool, October 30, 1916. SIR: I have the honor to confirm the following cablegram this day sent to the Department: Affidavits officers and members of crew Rowanmore show speed increased when shelling by submarine began. Submarine continued shelling after Rowanmore signaled "am abandoning ship" and while crew were leaving vessel. No injuries received. Position of vessel fifty-one thirty north thirteen west. Wind fresh. Heavy sea running. Crew in boats before ship torpedoed. Picked up two to three hours later. Two Americans and five Philippinos in crew. Affidavits posted. Watson, Vice Consul. The officers and members of the crew of the steamship Rowanmore arrived in Liverpool yesterday and this Consulate has now taken affidavits as per the list appearing below, which are enclosed herewith. From these affidavits it appears that on the morning of October 26th, about 8.45 a. m., the ship was shelled by a submarine, the position of the vessel being then 51.30 North and 13 West about 130 miles from Fastnet. Immediately on seeing the submarine the helm was put hard aport which brought the submarine astern and the ship's speed was increased about one knot. Two shells struck the ship and it was then seen that the submarine was flying in International Code the signal "abandon ship." The shelling continued and the signal in the same code "Am abandoning ship" was given. The engines were stopped, and the crew took to the boats, the shelling continuing meanwhile. A heavy sea was running at the time. When the boats were clear of the ship the submarine came up and ordered the captain to come on board, which he eventually did. A torpedo was then fired at the Rowanmore and the vessel sank at about 2.42 p. m. The crew were picked up by the British patrol boat Sunflower between two and three hours later and landed at Bantry Bay, Ireland, at 10 a. m., on the morning of Friday the 27th instant. None of the crew were injured by the shelling. There were on board the Rowanmore two American citizens, Albert Sessler, Boston, and George Murphy, Brooklyn, N. Y., and five Philippinos, Dionilo Abanilla, Nueva Ceres, P. I.; Jose Visterion, Negros Island, P. I.; A. Santa Cruz, Iloilo, P. I.; Rupino Paisloria, Cebu, P. I., and Blinabo Enam, Iloilo, P. I. This report is forwarded pursuant to instructions from the Consul General at London dated June 1st, 1916. I have, etc., HUGH H. WATSON. [Inclosure 1.] KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND, County of Lancaster, City of Liverpool, Consulate of the United States of America. I, Gilbert Ratcliffe Watson, of 31 Wildman Street, Kendal, Westmoreland, temporarily at 35 Ivanhoe Street, Bootle, Liverpool, England, do hereby make oath and say as follows: I am a British subject, and was chief officer of the British S. S. Rowanmore, which sailed from Baltimore, October 14, 1916, for Liverpool with a general cargo. That all went well on the voyage until 8.45 a. m., on October 26th. The vessel's position then was 51.30 N., and 13 W., distant about 130 miles from Fastnet. At the time named shells burst close to the ship, but without anything visible in sight. A few moments later we sighted a submarine, which was firing at the ship, and shelling her. The submarine was bearing North half East, about three miles distant, the ship steering East East true. Immediately on seeing the submarine we put the helm hard-a-port and brought the submarine right astern. Orders were given for the engine room that all speed should be put on the ship. The Rowanmore had no guns on board and was quite unarmed. I was on the bridge when the submarine was sighted, and remained there. Two shells struck the ship, one following the other. Just afterwards we saw that the submarine was flying two flags, International Code "A. B.," which was interpreted as "abandon ship." The shelling of the vessel by the submarine continued and the third shell which struck the ship carried away the starboard fore rigging. Another shell hit the ship and exploded in No. 2 hatch. A still further shell struck the ship and wrecked the steering gear. It Iwas then decided to abandon the ship, and we put flags up to that effect: International Code "A. G.," which is "Am abandoning ship." The engines were stopped, and all hands were ordered to take to the boats. We commenced to lower the boats, but the submarine also continued to shell the ship whilst this process of lowering the boats was in operation. The entire crew succeeded in getting away from the ship in four boats, but the submarine still continued her shelling all the time, to the risk of the crew, as shells were falling within 20 feet of the boats. In fact the spray from the shots was drenching the boats. The boats eventually got clear of the ship, and the submarine came up close to my boat, No. 4, and said, through a megaphone, “Get out of the way, or I'll run you down." We pulled and got clear, and the submarine hailed me and asked if I was the captain, and added that we were very foolish, and further "I am sorry for you, but you will drown." The submarine then went to the boat the captain was in and ordered him to come on board the submarine. The captain did not reply, and the command was again repeated. The captain still made no reply. The third time the command was given "Come on board, quickly," at the same time pointing a revolver at the captain, who then went on board the submarine. A torpedo was then fired at the Rowanmore by the submarine, which then submerged. The Rowanmore sank at 2.42 p. m., October 26, she being full of shell holes. At the time the crew took to the boats the wind was moderate to fresh with a heavy sea. The rise and fall of the boats in the heavy sea was from 15 to 20 feet, and there was great risk of the boats being first smashed against the ship's side, and later of being swamped in the heavy sea. All of the crew, however, fortunately were saved, being picked up by one of H. M. ships and landed at Bantry Bay, 10 a. m., Friday, October 27. There were two American citizens on board and five Philippinos. G. R. WATSON. Subscribed and sworn to this thirtieth day of October, 1916, before me. HUGH H. WATSON, American Vice Consul in Charge, Liverpool, England. [Seal of the American Consulate.] [Inclosure 2.] KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND, County of Lancaster, City of Liverpool, Consulate of the United I, Albert Sessler, being duly sworn, make oath and say: That I am twenty-eight years old. That I joined the British S. S. Rowanmore as a trimmer in Baltimore, Maryland, October 14, 1916. That on the morning of October 26, 1916, I came off watch at 6 a. m., and went immediately to my bunk. Between 8.30 and 9 a. m., I was awakened by a fireman who told me to get my clothes on quickly as I could, as a submarine was after us. I dressed and went up on deck. Shells were then falling all around the ship and close to it, but I saw none strike the ship. I got a life preserver and got into a life boat and about ten minutes later we were lowered, the shells falling continuously. This was somewhere around 9 a. m. A heavy swell was running, making it dangerous to be out in small boats. I saw a submarine come toward us after we were in the small boats, but she changed her course and went by about twenty yards away. This was the first time I saw the submarine. I saw no shells fall among the small boats after they left the ship. We were in the small boats about three hours and were picked up by a British patrol boat, the Sunflower, and taken to Bantry. I saw no one injured by falling shells. I saw the Rowanmore sink about 2.45 p. m., at which time I was on the Sunflower. ALBERT SESSLER. Subscribed and sworn to this thirtieth day of October, 1916, before me, HUGH H. WATSON. American Vice Consul in Charge. [Seal of the American Consulate.] No. 4639.] Chargé Grew to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, November 21, 1916. SIR: With reference to my despatches Nos. 45291 of November 4, 1916, and 45321 of November 7, 1916, I have the honor to enclose 1 Not printed. herewith, in order to complete the files of the Department, a copy and translation of the Note from the Imperial Foreign Office, dated November 19, 1916, replying to the Embassy's inquiry in regard to the sinking of the steamer Rowanmore. The text of this Note was cabled to the Department in my telegram No. 46221 of November 20, 1916. I have, etc., J. C. GREW. [Inclosure Translation.] A. 30585. J. Nr. 23863. } FOREIGN OFFICE, Berlin, November 19, 1916. The undersigned has the honor to inform Mr. Joseph Clark Grew, Chargé d'Affaires of the United States of America, in reply to the notes of the 2d and 7th instant, and in supplement to the note of the Foreign Office of the 3d instant that the investigation of the sinking of the English steamer Rowanmore, conducted by the Admiralty Staff of the Imperial German Navy has led to the following result: At about 9.30 o'clock on the morning of October 26th last, a steamer was sighted pointing eastward; there was a light westerly wind and a light sea therefrom but a heavy westward Atlantic roll. Upon approaching it was seen to be a question of an English steamer. The steam was not flying any flag. At a distance of from 5 to 6 thousand meters a shot of warning was fired; the steamer now turned and ran away at high speed, always keeping the submarine to the starboard aft. The submarine took up the pursuit and kept the steamer under gunfire to prevent flight. It was observed during the pursuit that the steamer gave out wireless signals as to its position and the pursuit by the submarine in order to attract help. At about 11.20 o'clock it was perceived that the speed of the steamer was decreasing and following this that boats were lowered. Hereupon the firing was immediately stopped. It is a matter of course that no shots were fired at the lifeboats. This is also confirmed by the fact that nobody in the boats was injured. The submarine was now still about 2,000 meters away from the steamer and observed that a signal was hoisted on the steamer which did not however blow clear and therefore could not be made out. It was not until later that it was learned from the captain that he had caused the signal "I surrender the ship" to be hoisted. According to his own testimony the signal was hoisted furled by an excited seaman so that it could not be made out. 1 Not printed. |