851B.01/61: Telegram
The Consul in Martinique (Malige) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:28 p.m.]
37. Censor and I referring United Press and Associated Press inquiries re events my 35, 3660 to “Washington” to calm populace prey to rumors, Admiralty communiqué restricted to newspapers will cite facts briefly without naming Del Plata. Though prohibited reach abroad for fear distortion, alarming reports based thereon are expected circulate abroad eventually and advisability some kind of release now by Department indicated.
Local release reads:
“Yesterday news arrived of the torpedoing of an American merchant vessel off Dominica. When informed, the Admiral High Commissioner,61 on an inspection tour in Guadeloupe, sent the Barfleur to the rescue of the ship’s crew, the number saved being not yet known.
Last night about 10:30, a German submarine appeared off the port control station and after identifying itself by the usual international signals asked to be allowed to debark a wounded man. The submarine remained off the station and the control launch went out to it and took off the man who, crudely amputated of a foot, was in urgent need of care ashore. The submarine departed immediately westward and the man taken to the hospital.[”]
It is to be noted that the submarine did not enter even the outer harbor and restricted itself to debarking a seriously injured man in minimum time.