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	К	badger
	Дата	29.07.2004 13:31:32
	Рубрики	WWI; Флот;

Вот из NY Times за 1915 год (английский, среднего качества распознавание)

GERMANY CHARGES MURDERS AT SEA
New York Times; Oct 18, 1915; P

Bernstorff Sends to Lansing Nicosian Affidavits Accusing British of
Killing Submarine Men.
USE OF OUR FLAG ASSERTED
Four Muleteers on American Boat
Swear Drowning Men and
Prisoners Were Shot.

Count von Bernstorff, the German Ambassador, announced yesterday that he had forwarded to Secretary Lansing several affidavits alleging that eleven j German sailors of a submarine crew were slain in cold blood by the crew of a British patrol vessel named the Bara-lung, which flew the American flag at the time of the attack. It Is also alleged that the British patrol boat was emblazoned with the American flag painted on board and hung over the' sides.
The affidavits were prepared in New Orleans, where the steamship Nicosian, on board of which some of the German sailors sought refuge, arrived a short time ago. On the vessel's arrival sev-eial of the crew said a Britisli patrol boat had sunk a German submarine vessel, and subsequently when the survivors of the submarine were struggling in the water, or had sought refuge aboard the Nicosian they had been killed by the British seamen.
Count von Bernstoff issued the following statement:
" According to the affidavits, six of the German sailors were shot while seeking rescue In the water, the Captain after raising one hand in surrender, and the others were shot down after taking refuge on the steamship Nicosian. The British patrol boat, up to the moment of firing, it ia alleged, not only flew the American flag, but conspicuously exhibited the (flag on large boards suspended on either side of the boat.
" One of the statements Is signed by
James J. Curren, foreman of the gang in charge of transporting mules on the Ntcosian from New Orleans to England. The other statement, corroborating in detail that made by Curren, is signed by Charles D. Hightower. Amer-son Palen, Edward Clark and E. H. Cosby, all employed as muleteers on the Nicosian. The affidavits were prepared in New Orleans before Charles E. Denechaud.
" According to the sworn statement of Foreman Curren, the Nicosian reached the war zone on Aug. 1C. On Aug. W a submarine was sighted. The submarine fired a warning shot and hoisted a signal directing all aboard the Nicosian to abandon the ship. While Captain Manning was giving orders to the wireless operator, a ship was sighted on the horizon. The submarine fired a second warning shot, which went high over the heads of the men and carried away the wireless. After telling of the departure of the crew in boats, Curren continues: 'The ship we had sighted on the horizon was sufficiently close to us now to make out her flag, which we J recognized as an American flag. On her respective sides amidship were two boards with the American flag painted on each. The size of these painted flags was about VI by 16 feet.
NKW Arrival Open* Fin-.
" 'After the submarine had opened fire on the deserted Nicosian the Baralong came up behind and passed the attacked ship, immediately opening fire on the submarine with rifles. Then the Baralong began firing with cannon, whose screens fell away and exposed the muzzles of the guns. After the screens mentioned fell away and the guns began to fire the American flag at the pole at- the stern of the BaraJong was dipped and the British flag hoisted Instead.'
" One of the shots from the Baralong carried away the conning tower ot the submarine and killed several Germans. As the submarine had begun to sink, the rest of the crew, numbering eleven, plunged into the ocean, five reaching the rope ladder of the Nicosian and clambering aboard, while six swam about, finally securing hold of the fall lines of the lifeboats. The submarine disappeared, and the men from the Nicosian boarded the Baralong. The Captain shook hands with the Nicosian crew, and, according to Curren, was \ highly elated over the outcome of the j encounter. He then ordered his own men along the rail, and. according to ! Curren, directed them to shoot the Ger- i man sailors clinging to the Nicosian's ! ropes. Some of the men started firing, ! and all of the six men in the water were Uilled in cold blood.
" The Baralong was then made fast to I the Nicosian, which was boarded by the British crew. Captain McBride of the Baralong, when ordering out the marines in charge of a petty officer, gave the command: 'Get them all; take no prisoners.'
Saw the Captain Shot.
" Curren tells of the killing of the Germans on board the Nicosian. The ship's carpenter, he waa told, killed one with a revolver after he threw up hiH hands. One was killed In the engine room hatch as he was descending a lai der. The chief engineer, says Curren, boasted of having killed another. Curren says he saw the bodies of die slain, and adds: ' Each one of them had a hole in the forehead made by shots, and. which I was told, were fired to make sure a good job was done.'
" Curren says the German Captain, who had been hiding in the bow of the ship, rushed to the side and dived over- │ board. He threw up one hand in surrender, but several volleys of shots were fired. After the Captain was shot the marines returned to their own ship, and there was great rejoicing among them. ' The steward of our ship opened a bottle of whiskey and presented it to the gunner and his friends.' Curren as-
serts that tie saw a letter, subsequently sent t>v the Captain of tlie Barolong to the Captain of the Nicosian, asking him to caution his men, particularly the Americana aboard, to say notliin~ of the event either on their arrival at Liverpool or their return to America."