DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

246 SUBMARINE WARFARE.
in the water about 100 feet from our stem, which shot
dropped directly in the wake of the vessel. I looked with
the aid of glasses, as did all of the officers of the vessel,
but none of us were able to discover any boat in sight.
I ordered the wheel put hard starboard and the engines
stopped, which was done. About 15 minutes later We
made out the submarine coming slowly toward us. At
that time, to my judgment, she was about one mile away.
Said submarine had signals hoisted but, owing to the
entire lack of wind, they were lying flat against the
flagstaff instead of being carried out by the breeze and
we were unable to make out what the signals were.
We were laying still at that time. Then there was a
shot fired which came within about four feet of the broad
side of the vessel and the submarine kept coming slowly
toward us. When she was about one-half mile away
we were able to make out one flag and guessed at the
rest. We immediately proceeded to lower a boat and
I dispatched the first mate with the ship's papers. The
Owego was displaying a large American flag on her stern
and also a large American nag amidship. Her name and
the letters U. S. A. were painted in white letters 6 feet
long, extending nearly from bow to stern on either side.
I did not know the exact number of shots which said
submarine fired, I having seen but four shots which struck
near the vessel. There was no shot fired across the
steamer's bow as stated in the German note. The commander
of the submarine informed my first mate that
he had fired 11 or 12 shots at us and that was the source
of my information when I gave the number of shots fired.
The first mate returned from the submarine with said
papers and a permit written in German and signed by
the commander allowing the vessel to proceed, which she
did. The boat which I sent out to the submarine was
launched as quickly as possible after I discovered the
submarine signal to send same. I did not know we were
being fired upon by reason of the heavy firing in the
direction of the French coast, but stopped the vessel
and waited as soon as it was discovered that the firing
was near to us and sounded differently than what we
had been hearing."
Mr. Gerard is instructed that if he can discern no
objection he is permitted to submit this further statenent
to the Foreign Office, augmented by the information
contained in Mr. Lansing's last telegram, and is also
informed that this information is being forwarded to the
end that he may have all the facts necessary for the
information of the German Government.
File No. 841.857/193.
Case of the "Sebek."
Charge Bliss to the Secretary of State.
No. 3809.] AMERICAN EMBASSY,'
Paris, October 21,., 1916.
SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith an affidavit
executed by one, John S. Brennan, claiming American
citizenship, who was a member of the crew of the British
steamship Sebek, which is alleged to have been torpedoed
by a submarine near Malta on the 12th instant.
This affidavit was executed before the American
Consul General at Marseille.
I have, etc.,
ROBERT WOOD BLISS.