DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

SUBMARINE WARFARE. 285
S. S. Laconia, to come to Liverpool from his home in
Ireland in order that the affidavits of himself and third
officer Coppin as to the conversation which took place
between persons in the life boat and those on board the
German submarine might be taken from both men at
the same time.
The two affidavits are sent herewith in duplicate and
made inclosures Nos. 1 and 2.
I have, etc.,
HORACE LEE WASHINGTON.
[Inclosure 1.]
Affidavit of Joseph WiUiam Coppin, Third Officer on
Steamship "Laconia."
KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND,
COUNTY OF LANCASTER, CITY OF LIVERPOOL,
Consulate of the United States of America.
I, Joseph William Coppin, being first duly sworn, do
depose and say as follows:
I am 35 years of age, a British subject, born at Liskerd,
Cornwall, 14th August, 1882, and I reside at Liskerd,
Cornwall.
I was extra third officer of the Cunard S. S. Laconia and
sailed on her from New York Sunday, February 17th,
1917. All went well until the evening of Sunday, the
25th, when at about 9.30 the Laconia was torpedoed by
a German submarine. The weather was calm and there
was a light wind with a moderate swell. The Laconia
was torpedoed without warning. She carried one gun in
the stern for defence purposes. Her cargo was mainly
cotton. The crew consisted of British and Americans,
but I do not know how many Americans there were exactly
in the crew or among the passengers. Fifteen
minutes after the torpedo hit the Laconia about seven
boats were clear of the ship, and I was in No. 13. Shortly
after this the submarine fired another torpedo into the
Laconia, and then a little while afterwards the submarine
came within speaking distance of the life boat in which I
was and inquired as to the tonnage of the vessel. The reply
from the boat stated the tonnage of the ship at eighteen
thousand. The submarine then said a patrol would pick
us up. The submarine left us and we were picked up by
a patrol boat about 4.30 on Monday morning after suffering
seven hours' exposure in an open boat.
JOSEPH W. COPPIN.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2nd day of
March, 1917.
HORACE LEE WASHINGTON,
Consul of U. S. of A. at Liverpool, Eng.
[Seal of the American Consulate.]