New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 5, August, 1915Various
History
New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 5, August, 1915
Various
World War, 1914-1918
Two more "Pearce" letters were received on July 13 by an afternoon
newspaper of New Orleans and by its Chief of Police, saying that Erich
Muenter had taught the writer the use of explosives. On the same day
the Samland of the Atlantic Transport Line and the Strathlay,
chartered by the Fabre Line, survived attempts to destroy them by fire
bombs, and on July 15 "Pearce" threatened in another letter to destroy
the Rochambeau. A bomb thought to be intended for the Orduna in a car
loaded with coal consigned to the Cunard Line was discovered at
Morrisville, N.J., on July 18. The Washington Times, the Philadelphia
Public-Ledger and the Brooklyn Eagle received on July 16, 19 and 20,
respectively, letters from "Pearce" declaring that henceforth persons
leaving America on British ships would do so at their peril, and
harking back to the German Embassy's warning before the Lusitania was
torpedoed. On July 26 an SOS call was received at the Fire Island
station, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and by the coast guard ship
Mohawk, but the distressed ship's appeal for help was broken off
before her name or position could be given. "Pearce's" letter to The
Brooklyn Eagle reads as follows:
"Sir: You people of Brooklyn have already had one experience with the
work of our men, and so, perhaps, it will be unnecessary to say more
than a few words of warning. The Kirkoswald affair is still fresh in
your memory; therefore, we will not waste words discussing this
matter. The purpose of this communication is to warn the American
citizens living in your vicinity to keep clear of British vessels
sailing from Brooklyn, New York, New Orleans, Savannah, Newport News,
and Montreal. Our men are now operating from each of these ports, and
Americans will do well to heed this warning ere it is too late.
"The Imperial German Government derives no satisfaction or profit from
the killing of neutral Americans, and we are instructed to go to great
lengths in order to give timely warnings to all Americans who
contemplate voyages to Europe within the next two months. The
explosive operations will supplement the submarine operations, which
have proved inadequate to prevent the enemy from importing munitions
from America.
"We earnestly advise Americans who find it imperative to travel to
Europe to sail only on vessels flying the American flag. Such steamers
as those of the American Line, for instance, will be perfectly immune
from either submarine or explosive operation. The Imperial German
Government will, if requested, offer no objection to the American
Government pressing into service the interned German vessels if the
American vessels are found to be unable to accommodate the traffic to
Europe. By publishing this warning American lives may be spared.
"The circumstances under which this communication is written make it
impossible for us to affix our proper signatures; therefore, we trust
that you will accept for a signature our pen name.
"PEARCE."
Devotion to the Kaiser
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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