DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

248 SUBMARINE WARFARE.
Mr. Grew is instructed to bring to the attention of the
German Government the above cases in which it appears
the lives of American citizens have been jeopardized by
German submarines, and request an immediate investigation
and report.
File No. 841.857/252.
ChargS Grew to the Secretary of State.
[Telegram.]
No. 4702.] AMERICAN EMBASSY,
Berlin, December 8, 1916.
The following note with regard to the sinking of the
Sebek has just been received:
"FOREIGN OFFICE,
"Berlin, December 6, 1916.
"The undersigned has the honor to reply as follows
to the note of Mr. Grew, Charge" d'Affaires of the United
States of America, dated the twenty-first ultimo. Foreign
Office No. 14221, relative to the sinking of the. British
vessel Sebek by a German submarine.
"According to the investigations of the German Naval
authorities a German submarine attacked without warning
and sank on October twelfth last, close to the warport
of LaValeta, Malta, a ship which was under way
with lights smothered and without position lanterns, and
which therefore had to be considered as a warship by the
German commander.
"A completely darkened ship which contrary to the
international provisions relative to the carrying of lights
at sea displays no streamer (?) and a position of lights
thereby characterizes itself as a warship, in the war area
at any rate or still more in the neighborhood of a warport
as in the present case. Should then the darkened
ship sunk off Malta actually have been identical with
the British steamer Sebek the blame for jeopardizing
fives of the Americans hired on the Sebek attached solely
to the captain who, in order to evade measures of prize
by the German cruisers recognized by international laws,
took upon himself the danger involved in neglecting,
contrary to international law the international provisions
relative to the carrying of lights.
"The undersigned requests that the above be communicated
to the American Government and avails
himself of the opportunity to the Charge" d'Affaires,
et cetera. (Signed.) ZIMMERMANN."
GREW.
File No. 841.857/240.
Case of the "Barbara."
Consul Lathrop to the Secretary of State.
No. 313.] AMERICAN CONSULATE,
Cardiff, November 16, 1916. .
SIR: I have the honor to enclose a copy of the declaration
of Alle Dorsey, a colored American citizen, relative
to the loss by submarine attack of the vessel on which
he was engaged, the British S. S. Barbara.
I have, etc.,
LORIN A. LATHROP.