DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

206 SUBMARINE WABFABE.
pnclosure 1.]
Sworn Statement of Master of S. S. " Carlo."
My name is Edgar L. Cole.
I was borne in Harrington, Maine, U. S. A., February
6th, 1874.
I was master of the U. S. S. Carlo.
I have been master of her for about one year.
I have been master of several vessels and for many
years for this same company, the Clyde Steamship Company,
of New York.
I have never before made a trip to the Continent or
to Germany.
The net tonnage of the steamer is 1,285.
We finished loading at Charleston, South Carolina, on
the 26th of January, 1915, and January 27th cleared
from that port for Bremen with 4,600 bales- of cotton.
We also had 200 tons of pig iron for ballast in the bottom
of the ship.in different holds.
We had about 550 tons of coal when we left.
There were 30 men in our crew, counting myself.
I first knew we were going to Bremen about 8 or 10
days before sailing. We did extensive repairs to get the
ship ready for this voyage.
I had special instructions before sailing to go via the
English Channel and take a pilot at Dover, who would
conduct us through the Channel to the Sunk Lightship.
These instructions were given me by our agents in
Charleston, Mr. Whitsit, acting for Strachan & Co., our
charterers.
Both the owners and charterers believed that the
Channel route would be the safest, as the English government
claimed it would allow all American vessels
going to Germany with cotton free passage. It was also
represented that parts of the northern route were mined.
One of our ships which went by the northern route, the
Denver, had been captured and taken into Kirkwall, and
on account of this these instructions to go via the Channel
were issued.
I had no other special instructions from the United
States.
I was equipped with United States Hydrographic
charts, I think for December, but it might have been
January. I also had Hydrographic bulletins, I think for
December and not for January, but I am not sure about
that.
I did not notice on these publications a note that vessels
proceeding via the Channel should steer for Lister
Deep.
I did not use the Hydrographic chart a great deal, but
used mostly a modern Atlantic chart which I had bought.
I did not look for any other route, as I had orders to
proceed to the Hook of Holland and procure a German
pilot, and the charterers informed me that Nicolaus Haye
and Company, Bremen, would have a pilot ready for me
when I reached the Hook.