DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

File No. 300.115Ev2/17.
SUBMARINE WARFARE. 205
Ambassador Gerard to the Secretary of State.
[Telegram—Paraph rase.]
No. 1728.] AMERICAN EMBASSY,
Berlin, March 2, 1915.
Mr. Gerard reports the return of Naval Attache^
Gherardi from Bremen where he was sent to obtain the
statements of the captains of the vessels Evelyn and Carib.
Both of the vessels were sunk by mines. The British
gave no false directions as reported. Both of the vessels
simply ran on mine field.
File No. 300.115019/15.
Consul Fee to the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
No. 304.] AMERICAN CONSULATE,
Bremen, March 4, 1915.
SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith the reports
under oath of the captain and the officers of the American
steamer Carlo, of New York, which sank with the
cargo of 4,600 bales of cotton bound for Bremen from a
mine explosion on the 22nd of February, 1915, in a northwesterly
direction a short distance from the position of
the Norderney light in the North Sea.
These statements consist of the sworn affidavit of
Captain Cole, first, third, and second officers, and the
three engineers of the S. S. Carib.
Nothing was saved from the lost steamer; not even
the ship papers. The crew in their haste to save themselves
from the sinking vessel left with very scanty
clothing, and on landing had to be furnished with an
entire new outfit of new cloth.
The master with the aid of his officers made up the
crew list, which is attached to this statement.
These reports were taken before and certified to by
Mr. Buck, our consular agent at Bremerhaven, under my
direction.
Sworn duplicates of these reports have been forwarded
to the Embassy at Berlin.
On Tuesday, the 2nd of this month, I forwarded Captain
Edgar Cole and 24 members of the crew, including
the officers of the S. S. Carib, together with the Dutch
pilot, to Eotterdam for transportation home by American
S. S. Southerner to the order of Furness Steamship
Co., agents of the owners of the Carib, who met all expenses
of transportation to Rotterdam, the maintenance
and clothing of the crew, while at Bremen.
I have, etc.,
WILLIAM THOMAS FEE.