The _Ashmore_ was a Belgian Relief ship. She had a crew of 28 hands and was carrying a cargo of maize from Rosario to the Belgian Relief Commission, Rotterdam. In accordance with the regulations agreed upon between the German Government and the Relief Commission, the _Ashmore_ was flying flags, had two very large balls hoisted, and the words: "Commission for Relief in Belgium" painted in very large letters on her sides. On the 12th September at 8.30 a.m. the weather was fine and clear and the sea smooth, the ship then being about 3½ miles E. by N. from the Kentish Knock. Most of the crew were at breakfast, while the boatswain and chief engineer were patrolling the after-deck. Both men were in the act of turning round, the boatswain to starboard and the engineer to port, when the former saw a streak in the water at close quarters to amidships. Before the boatswain could give the alarm a terrible explosion took place. A volume of smoke, coal dust and water was driven up through the engine-room skylight and the starboard side of the vessel, which immediately began to heel over to starboard. The two boats were launched and manned, but the second engineer, donkeyman, and two firemen were never seen again, and must have been killed by the explosion. The _Ashmore_ sank at about 9 a.m. The two boats were picked up about the same time, and the survivors were landed at Chatham. In connection with this sinking, the following message was sent by the American Ambassador in London to the Secretary of State at Washington:-- "The Admiralty has confirmed to the Commission for the Relief of Belgium the sinking of the Relief-ship _Ashmore_ yesterday. Four of the crew are missing. The ship had a cargo of maize which the Commission had bought afloat. The captain now in London informs the Commission that the ship was torpedoed, that he saw no submarine, but plainly saw the torpedo coming towards the ship, and that the Commission's signals had been put up. This is, of course, in violation of the German Government's agreement with the Commission."