On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 26, 6 January 1916, Page 5

On the Sea

THF. BARALONG CASE,

GERMANY'S CRAVE INDICTMENT Per Pkf.Bs "ft.iW.noN, London, January I. The Press Bureau lias issued a memorandum from the German Government regarding the alleged incidents of tin' destruction of a German submarine by the auxiliary cruiser Baralong on August 19. and Sir E. Grey's reply thereto. The German document alleges that the steanie) .Nicosian was stopped by a German submarine, which fired on the Nicosian. After the crew had left, a steamer was seen approaching, living the American flag, and while the submarine was firing at the Nicosian the stranger which proved to be the Baralong, suddenly opened fire with hitherto hidden arms. The submarine began to sink, and her crew jumped overboard. Several of the men who were clinging; to the ropes of the Nicosian were killed by the gunfire of the Baralong, and partly by rifle fire from the Baralong's crew. One witness, Curran, an American, states that the commander of the Baralong ordered his men to shoot the helpless German seamen in the. water. Cnrran and another witness, Paleu, also 'an American, assert that the commander of the Baralong gave a definite' order not to take any prisoners.

The statement continues: "Tho commander of the submarine, while swimming, raised his hand, in token of surrender, and was shot in the neck and killed. The. commander of the Baralong requested the captain of the Nmosian to impress upon his crew the .necessity not to say anything. There is 'no doubt that the commander gave orders to kill the German seamen in a cowdrdly manner, and also that the crew obeyed the order- and shared in the guilt of the murder. The German Government inform the British Government of this terrible deed, and take it for granted that the British Government will proceed on a charge of murder against the captain of the Baralong otherwise the German Government- consider they will be obliged to take serious decision for retribution for an unpunished crime."

SIR E. GREY'S REPLY. Sir E., Grey's memorandum to MrPage'(tlie American Ambassador)" states that'the British Note caused satisfaction, 'though: 'there' *xi as ! some ' sur- r prise' ! at/the''GernTan''\ifeiaty. . The principles o'f civilised ViJK dicated ' and it'' was evident that to single out''the case of the' s ßaraloqg was the height of absurdity. He suggested* '«tllat ftie wihojei question or atrocities on land and sea might fitly be examined by an impartial tribunal. As the very multitude of allegations against Germany would overload any tribunal, the inquiry might be confined to three incidents within a few hottis of the Baralong allegations. The memorandum continues: Bntam stjep ! |edi 'the'Mlogatibnsin the ease pf the Arabic, although no effort ' was made, to-save, the crew, and 4/ noncombatants lost their lives in this act of barbarism. The second incident was wheii a German destroyer fired upon a stra'nded ' British' submarine- oil - the Danish coast, and I when, the crew, attempted to swim ashore the destroyer fired on them.' Forty-eight hours later a German submarine fired shrapnel at the steamer Ruel, and one man was killed and eight wounded. No statement was offered justifying these coldblooded, cowardly outrages; The memoranum concludes: Ihese incidents might, with the case of the Baralong have been brought before an impartial' court, say, officers of the American Navy. Britain will do all in her power to further inquiry and carry out the findings of'the court. It is unnecessary to reply to the suggestion that the British Navy is guilty of inhumanity; the number of German sailors rescued from drowning amounts to 1150 but the German Navy shows no auch' record. The German Navy does not show such a record, perhaps, through want of opportunity The German document includes tlie affidavits of six Americans, who were aboard the Nicosian, which it is alleged was carrying 350 mules which were landed safely at Avonmouth, whither she was towed and docked. Ihe witnesses who shipped as muleteers and superintendents, allege that the Baralong had large canvas shields whereon 'the American flag was painted, hour German submarine men who scrambled „p\the sides of the Nicosian we*e found in the engine-room and shot m cold blood by the Baralong's boats

crew. . f . ~ - L Holland, an American,-makes tins affidavit: I was a member of the crew of the Baralons, which was disguised

us an armed cruisor. On August 19 wo picked up a wireless that a submarine hud sunk the Arabic and was attacking the Nicosian. We rushed to tiie scene. Several of the crew of the submarine were killed by shot while i.i the »v::ier, and only one got aboard ili.- .\ic(,.-:....i. After our crow boarded i-ic Nicosian wo found one of the submarine men on dcek, and when asked if his submarine nad sunk the Arabic he refused to g«ve information. He said: 'Wh.y do., l you shoot.' A marine then shot him and threw the iody overboard."

.(. .M. Garrett, an American, in his affidavit, said: "Twelve submarine men jumped into the water, most of them iaked. Twenty-five marines fired at che submarine captain while he was u the water, and I saw others similarly shot later the submarine was blown up. The Nicosian's captain (Manning! ordered the men with oars to hit a German on the bead if he 3warn near."

James Jay, of Chicago, in his affidavit, said that the Baralong's second shot smashed the submarine's periscope, and the third carried away the base of the conning tower, blowing two Germans into the air. The submarine quickly sank, and after the British seamen had boarded the Nicosian he saw the bodies of two Germans, each with a hole in the forehead. A revolting phase of the affair was that when the bodies were taken on deck jome of the crew of the Nicosian kickHi the faces of the dev.l men before throwing the bodies overboard.

PRESS COMMENT. (Received 8.50 a.m.) London, January 5. The Daily Mail says that everyone knows our naval humanity will emerge unscathed from the investigation. The paper condemns the government for ft-itliholding news of the retribution which had overtaken the pirates. The Chronicle descrihes the German charges in the* 03'aralong'case as a foul charge, and Sir E. Grey's offer to submit the whole question of atrocities on land and sea to an impartial tribunal as a fair offer. (Received 8.50 a.m.) London, January 6. The Westminster Gazette says: We may reconcile ourselves to talk to Germany about the humanity of the sea when she has given the world the spectacle of the commander of the submarine which sunk the Ancona hanging'by the neck.

VrtEPersia tragedy. FOR EXECUTION OF SUBMARINE COMMANDER. j i ,* '\ 8.50 a,ra 7 ), ~. Acording to;the Post, America will probably demand the execution of the commander of- the submarine which sunk the Persia. SEIZURE OF GREEK SAILING am &Ai '•>'! VESSEL. 'Paris, January 4. A ! snip 'of th© British I squadron seized a Greek sailing vessel and removed 25 . i Ausfob-BuTgarian passengers who have been interned at GibrfSlJ ; ___„ ':, j THE LATE CRUISER NATAL.j London. January 5. ;

The Admiralty has announced- «&J* , 380 of the Natal's crew are dead and missing. '. __ .-