DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

296 SUBMARINE WABFARE.
March second, arrived Bergen March seventeenth, departed
Bergen March twentieth, bound for Rotterdam,
cargo six thousand two hundred tons petroleum. Voyage
uneventful until eight fifteen evening March twentyfirst,
when ship lay twenty-five miles north by east of
Terschelling Lightship; torpedoed twice without warning.
First torpedo hit amidships, all lights went out.
Second torpedo hit further aft under flag painted on side,
port bunkers were ablaze, and ship began to settle. After
first torpedo shock Captain ordered engine stopped and
crew took boats. Vessel began list aport. Captain made
farewell search for missing members crew. One boat
tried pull away sinking vessel and capsized. Captain
saw submarine approaching when he was laying off
Healdton watching vessel sink. Nationality submarine
impossible to determine because it possessed no distinguishing
marks and was seen from distance one hundred
feet towards, (?) no words were exchanged with submarine.
From actions Captain and crew believe submarine undoubtedly
German. No other vessels were present or
within sight when Healdton torpedoed. Submarine made
no effort to assist crew or officers to. save their lives but
disappeared immediately after Healdton sank. Ship's
papers were not demanded. Captain with twelve men
rowed and sailed in open boat for Terschelling Lightship.
At eight o'clock morning March twenty-second boat was
picked up by Dutch Trawler Java 164 about ten miles
from Dutch coast. Another boat containing first mate
and seven men picked up by Dutch torpedo boat G-1S
near Terschelling after seventeen hours' exposure, rescued
at two o'clock afternoon March twenty-second. No
details at hand concerning those drowned in capsized boat
or on ship except one Norwegian with arms and legs
frozen brought Ymuiden by steamer trawler Ocean 4-
Perils and hardships suffered by all survivors extraordinary,
some possess 54 (?) no clothes; others had no shoes;
two naked stokers, Jose Jacinto and Jose Gonzales, died
from exposure, the former in mate's boat, latter in hospital
to-day. Stokers had clothes burnt off by fire in
boiler rooms. All members crew partially clothed; one
man in captain's boat, G. W. Embry, home New Orleans,
first assistant engineer, would have died exposure and
fatigue without clothes if trawler had picked up small
boat one hour later. All suffered from fatigue. Second
assistant engineer only wore underclothes and barefooted.
Every member crew states decisively that
Healdton torpedoed without warning. Ship made no
effort escape or resist. Captain ordered engine stopped
after first torpedo. No flight was attempted because
ship crippled. Vessel going ordinary speed on peaceful
voyage, unarmed, when torpedoed. Healdton was torpedoed
when all members crew, forty-one men in all,
were on vessel, both torpedoes struck before anyone could
leave ship. Casualties were as follows: Nineteen men
either died in capsized boat by ship or from suffocation in
bunkers. Captain believes two members crew were never
able reach lifeboat because on watch below or in engine