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USS WASHINGTON NARROWLY AVERTS BEING TORPEDOEDWashington, June II.—(I. N.S.)—The U.S.S. Washington wmstopped early today by a submarine of unknown nationality off the coast of Portugal and ordered to lower lifeboats and abandon ship, but was finally allowed to proceed without molestation.The state department, which was informed of the event by the United States Lines, said that someof the life-boats were actually being lowered before the submarine commander was convinced of the truthfulness of messages from the Washington’s captain that the vessel was an American ship.The vessel was stopped at about 5 a. m. today after it had left Lisbon and was proceeding northwestward to Galway, Ireland, to pick up more refugees. The ship was halted at a point 12 degrees50 minutes west and 42 degrees 12 minutes north.According to the report received by the state department the following dramatic exchange of messages took place by blinker signal between the Washington and the submarine:Submarine—“Stop ship. Ease to, ship. Torpedo ship.”Washington—“American ship.” Submarine—-“Leave ship.” Washington—“American ship.” Submarine—“Ten minutes.” Washington—“American ship. American ship.”Submarine—(Moment silence).Washington—“American ship. American ship.”Submarine—“Thought you another ship. Please go on—go on.”According to the report of Capfc. Harry Manning to the U. S. Lines, when the submarine gave the order “leave ship” the passengers and crew—most of them American citizens and refugees fleeing the war zone—were ordered to the life boats. Some of them, the report said, actually were being lowered when the order came to “please go on.After this order, the vessel proceeded its previously planned course. Soon, however, it sighted another submarine of unknown identity. The second undersea boat, however, did not molest the vessel.
Newspaper Details
Atlantic News Telegraph
Atlantic, Iowa, US
Tue, Jun 11, 1940
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Patricia F.
CA, USA 04 Sep 2017
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