DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

CASE OF THE PETROLITE. 187
between the masts and the one at the stern. Some days
ago, said the commander, his ship found an English vessel
flying the American flag, and when it sighted the submarine
it hoisted the English flag and commenced firing
on the submarine, which was compelled to go below.
The submarine commander again advised the captain to
have an American flag painted on the side of his ship.
The commander then asked if there were any provisions
(fresh) on board the Petrolite, to which Captain
Thompson replied in the affirmative, but added that he
had only enough for his own use. The commander said
he would like very much to have some and would be willing
to pay for them. Captain Thompson said that the
only way to get them was for the commander to force
him to give them up, as he would not sell them. The
commander then said that he required about 50 pounds
of meat, 50 eggs, and if the captain had a ham not in
use, by all means, a ham. He then ordered the captain
aboard but kept the wounded man as a hostage until
the provisions made their appearance. He informed the
captain that his was a large submarine with a crew of
thirty-five men, that could easily make the trip to America.
The captain, after a look fore and aft, agreed with
the commander, but expressed his doubts as to whether
the submarine after a visit to America would ever come
back again.
After his return to the Petrolite the captain ordered the
provisions out and sent over to the submarine. The officer
who took them over reported on his return with the
hostage that, as Captain Thompson would not accept any
money for the provisions, the commander had the honor
to offer him a bottle of champagne. The submarine then
disappeared with the provisions and the Petrolite resumed
her voyage.
[Attest.]
I, W. H. Oorschot, chief engineer of the S. S. Petrolite
(owners, Standard Oil Co. of N. J.), hereby attest that, in
my opinion, the amount of damage done to the fidle (the
casing containing the steam piping around the funnel) by
the explosion of a shell fired from an Austrian submarine
at the above-mentioned vessel would be covered by the
sum of $10,000.
W. H. OORSCHOT,
Chief Eng.
COPENHAGEN, JANUARY 26TH, 1915,
Kingdom of Denmark, City of Copenhagen, ss:
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 26 Jan., 1916
E. D. WINSLOW,
American Consul General, Copenhagen, Denmark.
[Seal of the American Consulate General.]
STATEMENT REGARDING STOPPAGE OF S. S. "PETROLITE"
BT A SUBMARINE WAR VESSEL IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Question. Where was the vessel stopped ?
Answer. Off coast of Tripoli, Sunday, December 5,
6.30 a. m.