SINKING OF SCHOONER

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 101, 28 March 1929, Page 2

SINKING OF SCHOONER

AN OFFICIAL REPORT. t CAPTAIN’S STATEMENT BELIEVED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Received March 27, 2.5 p.m. NEW YORK March 26. It is learned from reliable sources that the British Consul-General will report to the Embassy that the vessel, I’m Alone, was 14J miles out when shelled, and that, even had she been closer, it was his opinion that she would have been outside the coastguard jurisdiction. He will also report that he believes the men were gaoled without legal representation so far as the sinking is concerned. Mr Tom (the Consul-General) is said to hold 'the opinion that under the terms of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain, no right was given any ship of the United States Government to sink a vessel flying the British Flag anywhere. He is reported to have advised the Embassy yesterday that lie accepts as the truth charges made by Captain Randall. _ ' Semi-official sources believe that the British Government will be influenced to make representations to Washington, inasmuch as the right of one ship to transfer a cargo of any kind to another ship outside the United States’s territorial waters never has been questioned. Also, the British Consulate at New Orleans is Said to be annoyed by the attitudo of the Customs officials there. The Consul-General is said to resent the fact .that statements were taken from the accused members of the I’m Alone crew before they had conferred with the Consular official. The difficulties of conferring with members of the crew is said to have inspired the request for a personal interview from the Consul-General himself.