DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

Pile No. 841.857P43/42.
CASE OF THE PERSIA. 141
Ambassador W. E. Page to the Secretary of State.
No. 3073.] AMERICAN EMBASSY,
London, February 17, 1916.
SIR: With reference to my telegram No. 3805 of
to-day's date, I have the honor to transmit herewith
enclosed copies of a Note dated February 16th, which I
have now received from the Foreign Office, transmitting
copies of twelve further statements which have been
made by the chief officer, second officer, and second
engineer of the S. S. Persia, together with copies of statements
made by the surviving engineers, able seamen,
and carpenter of that vessel, in regard to her loss.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
WALTER HINES PAGE.
The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to
Ambassador W. H. Page.
FOREIGN OFFICE,
February 16, 1916.
YOUR EXCELLENCY: With reference to my note of
the 29th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to Your
Excellency herewith, for the information of the United
States Government, copies of further statements by the
chief officer, second officer, and second engineer of the
S. S. Persia, together with copies of statements by the
surviving engineers, able seamen, and carpenter of that
vessel, in regard to her loss.
I have, etc.,
(For Sir E. Grey:)
W. LANGLEY.
I, Harold Geoffrey Stephen Wood, of "Westeria,"
14 Holmes Road, Twickenham, second officer of the
Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamship Persia,
make oath and say as follows:
I hold a certificate as second mate and have been an
Officer in the P. and O. Company's service since March,
1913. I have been in the Persia since June, 1914.
On the 30th December last I went on watch at noon
and found the captain in personal charge of the navigation.
There was a seaman on the lookout in the crow's
nest, another on the forecastle, and an A. B. and a lascar
on duty at their stations, also looking out on the lower
bridge, one on either side in addition to the A. B. with me
at the wheel. There were also three of the guns' crew
on the poop aft, viz, two A. B.'s aft and one marine
gunner.
At 1.10 p. m. Captain Hall was on the lower bridge,
and I then saw the wake of a torpedo approaching (four
points on the port bow) the ship, a second before she
was struck. I had not sighted a submarine myself
nor had anything been reported to me nor was any