DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

SUBMARINE WARFARE. 227
water. Crew immediately took to boats. After standing
by ship one hour returned on board and at 10.30 started
for Liverpool. About 1.25 a. m. met two vessels sent by
British Admiralty in answer to our wireless call and one
has been in attendance ever since. It was dusk when
explosion occurred. Flag had been hauled down five
minutes before. Steamer's name painted on both sides
ship in letters six feet tall. Had no warning and saw
nothing."
SKINNER.
File No. 300.115N27/8.
Consul Washington to the Secretary of State.
[Telegram.]
AMERICAN CONSULATE,
Liverpool, May 28, 1915.
NebrasTcan chartered White Star Line, water ballast.
Shock followed by explosion 8.24 evening May 25, latitude
51.14 N., longitude 10.52 W. Captain and officer watch
say flag lowered ten minutes before explosion. Chief
engineer only person saw track approaching torpedo.
Captain, officer watch, and chief engineer say light time
explosion sufficient see two thousand feet. Name and
port painted both sides letters six feet high. Lieutenant
Towers, Constructor McBride making further examination
Nebraskan to-day. They will photograph in dry
dock next week.
File No. 300.115N27/11.
WASHINGTON.
Consul Washington to the Secretary of State.
No. 383.] AMERICAN CONSULATE,
Liverpool, May 28, 1915.
SIR: I have the honor to report that information having
been obtained that the Nebraskan was due on the evening
of the 27th instant, arrangements were made to board her
through the courtesy of the White Star Company as she
arrived at the Mersey (Bar., •
The Assistant Naval Attache, Lieutenant Towers,
arrived in Liverpool under instructions from the Embassy
in the early afternoon, the White Star Line courteously
allowing him and Mr. McBride, of the Construction Corps,
U. S. N., who accompanied him, to also proceed on the
tug to the Bar to meet the NebrasTcan.
Affidavits were taken of the Captain, the officer on
watch at the time of the explosion, and of the Chief Engineer,
the only person on board who saw any indication
of a torpedo approaching the ship. The captain of the
NebrasTcan later told me that a reluctance to make an
affidavit, which I had observed on the ship, of the Chief
Engineer, was due to the fact that he was, by reason of
the sentiments which he entertained, disinclined to state
that he had seen anything that indicated that the vessel
was struck by a torpedo, presumably fired by a submarine
of a country with which he was in sympathy.