File No. 763.72/2514
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
No. 3190
London,
March 7, 1916
.
[Received March
20.]
Sir: With reference to my telegram No.
37851 of February 15, 7 p. m., I have the honor to
transmit herewith enclosed copies of a despatch dated the 6th
instant from the Consul General in London relative to an engagement
between the S. S. City of Marseilles and a
hostile submarine.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
The Consul General at London (Skinner) to the Ambassador in Great Britain
Sir: Referring to your letter of
February 8, 1916, asking for information in regard to an
engagement between the S. S. City of
Marseilles and a submarine in the Mediterranean, I have
the honor to inform you that the American Consul at Liverpool
sends me a cutting from the Journal of
Commerce of Friday, March 3d, stating that a
presentation will be made very shortly to the master and certain
of the crew of the ship named “for their successful effort in
beating off the attack of a German submarine in November last.”
The newspaper recalls that the City of
Marseilles was on a passage to India when she was
attacked by an enemy submarine showing no number and flying no
flag. The newspaper account continued:
Without any warning she opened fire, and continued for 20
minutes. Captain Dowse, of the City of
Marseilles, promptly took steps to save his vessel,
and was ably assisted by his officers, engineers, and crew.
The vessel’s stern was turned to the enemy and the ensign
hauled up. The next thing the submarine knew was that she
was being shelled, and apparently with good effect, as after
eight rounds had been fired, she either through prudence or
necessity submerged and did not again appear.
Captain Dowse was presented with an address “signed by 150 of the
passengers, whilst the crew and gunners each received a monetary
award from the same source.”
I have [etc.]
