File No. 861.857Im7/2
The Ambassador in Austria-Hungary (Penfield) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 4, 11.45 p. m.]
1247. Your 1194,1 April 17, 5 p. m. Ministry of Foreign Affairs state:
On morning April 11, 1916, about 27 sea miles east Columbretes Islands, a schooner bark [Russian Imperator] was stopped by Austrian submarine by means of warning shot fired across bow at distance of about 5,000 meters. Russian flag was displayed in answer to signal “Show your flag.” No sail was removed nor was any attempt to launch boats observed in reply to signal “Quit the ship immediately.” Submarine approached quite slowly to distance 400 meters, waited there some time, then fired a second shot through rigging when it was observed no preparation being made to quit ship. Between the first and second shot space of at least half an hour elapsed. After second shot crew immediately left ship in two boats rowing towards submarine. Boats contained two men slightly wounded evidently by pieces from shell or wood splinters. According to his statement, one, a Norwegian with first joint of the right thumb torn off and slight head wound, the other with slight flesh wound in upper thigh, a Russian Finn. They were treated on board submarine and returned to their boats which owing to their smallness taken in tow by submarine and towed in westerly direction towards Columbretes Islands until Dutch tank steamer Barendrecht en route to Barcelona sighted about 3 p. m. and requested to take men on board.
According to ship’s papers only one American, named Eineraxel Swensen, on board.
Submarine boat commander knows nothing of his being wounded, but should this be fact to regret of Austro-Hungarian authorities, it can only be explained by fact that bark did not comply with challenge of submarine to stop when ordered.