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Show HIT REPORTS i ON SINKING OP THE HESPERIAN I ) Washington Officials Iri dine to Opinion That Allan Al-lan Liner Was Destroyed by Floating Mine. DESTRUCTION OF ARABIC ADMITTED German Submarine Commander Com-mander Says He Torpedoed Torpe-doed Vessel Because He Feared Attack. i MONTREAX, Sept. 8. Relatives of Mrs. George Washington Stephens, Ste-phens, widow of G. W. Stephens, who met her death in the Lusi-tania Lusi-tania sinking, have been notified that her body, recently found off the coast, of- Ireland, went down with the Hesperian. WASHINGTON, Sept. 8-VGermany'8 promised communication in regard to the sinking of the White Star liner Arabic is expected here within a few days, in view of press dispatches today announcing that a submarine commander com-mander had reported to Berlin that he torpedoed the Arabic because he thought her changes of course meant she intended to attack him. Officials did not comment on the press reports. Through Count von Bern-storfT. Bern-storfT. the German embassador, assurances assur-ances have been given that full satisfaction satisfac-tion will be accorded the United States in connection with the destruction of the Arabic, on which American passengers passen-gers lost their lives. Consequently, while some officials indicated that the submarine commander 's explanation seemed unconvincing, there will be no judgment until Berlin is heard from formally. Information Asked. In the meantime, attention is being given the case of the Allan liner Hesperian. Hes-perian. 'Secretary Lansing today cabled Embassador Gerard at Berlin, asking that he report any information thatj i might be available there. Although all reports from London declare that the I Hesperian was torpedoed, the belief i that she struck a mine, still is prevalent in naval circles here, and at the state department no conclusion has been reached. No confirmation has been received so far of reports that an American named I Wolff, a member of the crew, was lost with the Hesperian. It was pointed out that the situation would not be changed if this proved to be true. The Ameri-I Ameri-I can government has taken the ground that the placing of American lives in .jeopardy by illegal 'sets is as grave an i offense against the rights of a neutral I nation as the, actual destruction of life. |