File No. 341.115P51/60
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
No. 1873]
London,
July 26, 1915.
[Received August 9.]
Sir: Adverting to the cablegraphic
instructions from the Department, No. 1596 of June [May] 21,1 in regard to the American S. S.
Joseph W. Fordney
, instructing me to inform the British Government to the
effect that an affidavit of the captain of the vessel had been
received, stating that he had made no effort to elude the British
patrol boat, I now have the honor to enclose herewith, for the
information of the Department, a copy of a note which I have
received from Sir Edward Grey
in reply to my representations in the premises.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
The British Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs (Grey) to
the American Ambassador (Page)
No. 95233/15]
London,
July 24, 1915.
Your Excellency: With reference to
your note of May 22 relative to the American S.S.
Joseph W. Fordney
, I have the honour to transmit herewith for your
excellency’s information a copy of a report which has been
submitted to the Admiralty by the commanding officer of H.M.S.
Teutonic respecting the circumstances
attending the interception of this vessel on April 6 last.
[Page 504]
I think your excellency will admit that this report constitutes a
sufficient basis for the statement made in the first paragraph
of my memorandum of May 14, which the master of the vessel is
now endeavouring to contravert.
I have [etc.]
For the Secretary of State:
Eyre A. Crowe
[Subenclosure]
Summary of report of commanding officer of
H.M.S. “Teutonic”1
At 3.50 a. m. on April 6, 1915, H.M.S. Teutonic sighted the American steamer
Joseph W. Fordney
bearing SE. (magnetic) and steaming on a southerly
course. H.M.S. Teutonic at that time was
steering S. 77° E. speed 13 knots, and course was altered and
telegraphs put to full speed to intercept the steamer, the white
ensign being hoisted at the peak and signal to stop engines also
hoisted. The steamer was then seen to alter course and appeared
to be steaming full speed. At 4 a. m. course was altered to S.
27° E. At 4.20 a. m. H.M.S. Teutonic
having overhauled the
Joseph W. Fordney
, an alphabetical signal “We have no code book” was
made by the latter. An alphabetical signal “Stop” was then made
by H.M.S. Teutonic, and the boarding
officer was alongside the S.S.
Joseph W. Fordney
at 5.15 a. m.
The master of S.S.
Joseph W. Fordney
stated in conversation with the officer in charge of
the armed guard, that he had been promised a bonus of about one
thousand dollars if he got through without being sent to
Kirkwall, from the time charterers, as a recompense for the
money saved to them if the delay of the vessel being sent to
Kirkwall for examination was obviated. He also stated that he
altered course towards the land for territorial waters to avoid
being intercepted.
