File No. 841.857R53/10
The Chargé in Germany (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 21, 10.35 p. m.]
4622. The following note relative to the sinking of the Rowan-more has just been received from the Foreign Office:
Berlin , November 19, 1916 .
The undersigned has the honor to inform Mr. Joseph Clark Grew, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States of America, in reply to the notes of the 2d and 7th instant, and in supplement to the note of the Foreign Office of the 3d instant, that the investigation of the sinking of the English steamer Rowanmore, conducted by the Admiralty Staff of the Imperial German Navy, has led to the following result:
At about 9.30 o’clock on the morning of October 26 last, a steamer was sighted pointing eastward; there was a light westerly wind and a light sea therefrom, but a heavy westward Atlantic roll. Upon approaching it was seen to be a question of an English steamer. The steamer was not flying any flag. At a distance of from five to six thousand meters a shot of warning was fired; the steamer now turned and ran away at high speed, always keeping the submarine to the starboard aft. The submarine took up the pursuit and kept the steamer under gunfire to prevent flight. It was observed during the pursuit that the steamer gave out wireless signals as to its position and the pursuit by the submarine in order to attract help.
At about 11.20 o’clock it was perceived that the speed of the steamer was decreasing and following this that boats were lowered. Hereupon the firing was immediately stopped. It is a matter of course that no shots were fired at [Page 312] the lifeboats. This is also confirmed by the fact that nobody in the boats was injured.
The submarine was now still about 2,000 meters away from the steamer and observed that a signal was hoisted on the steamer which did not, however, blow clear and therefore could not be made out. It was not until later that it was learned from the captain that he had caused the signal “I surrender the ship” to be hoisted. According to his own testimony the signal was hoisted furled by an excited seaman so that it could not be made out.
Upon approaching closer, three large boats containing the crew were found and a small gig in which the captain of the steamer sat alone with only one scull; he had been deserted by the crew when the ship was struck by several shells and as the last man on board had lowered this boat alone; he was taken from it on board the submarine. He there stated, “The steamer Rowanmore was struck 10 times, the last shot hitting the stern and apparently damaging the screw.” No one of the crew was injured in the shooting.
It was then ascertained that the Rowanmore was on a voyage from Baltimore to Liverpool. The ship was sunk. The position was latitude 51° 25´ north, longitude 12° 50´ west.
In the meantime a cloud of smoke came into sight which proved to be the column of smoke from a destroyer, which was rapidly coming towards the submarine. The safety of the crew of the steamer was thus guaranteed. In view of the destroyer the submarine submerged and made off.
The German Government begs to point out on this occasion that the difficult situation in which some American citizens were involved during this occurrence is not attributable to the action of the submarine, which kept entirely within the bounds of international law, but to the attitude of the English ship, which persistently attempted to escape until it had lost its mobility.
The undersigned avails himself [etc.]
[For references to the submarine warfare and assurances given that Germany meant to live up to her promises in his conversation of that date with the Chancellor, see telegram No. 4636, November 22, 1916, received November 24, 10 p. m., from the Chargé in Germany, ante, page 68.]