BRITISH SHIP SUNK

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 March 1929, Page 5

BRITISH SHIP SUNK

BY AMERICAN COASTGUARDS AMBASSADOR’S ENQUIRY (Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received March 25, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 24. Sir Esme Howard called upon the State Department officials on Saturday, in connection with the sinking of the British auxiliary schooner Imalone, of Delize, British Honduras, as a suspected rum-runner. The Ambassador made no representations to the State Department, but intimated that if the reports were true, the matter might be seriously considered. The Department asked .the coastguard for further information.

Meanwhile, Admiral F. C. Bullard, Commander of the Coastguard, declared that the ship was a notorious smuggler, with a record of nearly five years. The Admiral said: The “Imalone” cleared from Delize, with a cargo of liquor, ostensibly destined for the Bermudas.' On March 21, the cutter'Walcott saw her eight miles off the Louisiana coast, estimated by the coastguard as five hundred miles off her proper course. A pursuit began, the Walcott radioing for assistance as the Imalone was fast. ' The Washington headquarters ordered the coastguard at Mobile to send every available cutter. The Dexter joined the hunt and hailed the Imalone. When she refused to stop the Dexter sank her. The Admiral said the failure of the skipper, to stop was entire justification for the action taken. The Federal authorities are waiting the arrival of the Dexter to start investigations. The sinking occurred in one of the deepest spots in the Gulf of Mexico, two hundred miles from the Louisiana coast, and a hundred and fifty miles from Yucatan. The United States Attorney, Edward Talbot, expressed the. opinion that the stiff resistance by the crew indicated the presence of a cargo of aliens who were probably drowned. The Coastguard officers do not credit this, saying she was probably carrying only liquor and narcotics. If the chase started within the twelve mile limit, the officials said that the guardsmen were within their rights. A cutter is bearing the crew in irons, and the body of a negro seaman, who was drowned in the rush for the lifeboats.