File No. 300.115V68/2:
The Consul at Plymouth ( Stephens) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 22, 8 a.m.]
Summary affidavits, crew Vigilancia, ship from New York, February 28, for Havre with general cargo, sunk in seven minutes, 145 miles west Bishop on March 16, 10 a.m. by torpedo from submarine unknown nationality. Periscope submarine seen. No warning given. No other vessels in sight. Weather clear, moderate swell. Ship flying ensign and fully marked. Fifteen crew drowned in launching boats; of these, 6 were Americans, 5 Spanish, 2 Greeks, 1 Peruvian, 1 Venezuelan. Submarine unknown nationality followed lifeboats from 10 Friday night until 4 Saturday morning. Crew, landed Scilly Islands after 54 hours, in lifeboats, suffered greatly from injuries and exposure.