§ 6. Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been directed to the apology issued by the German Embassy in Washington for the submarine attack upon the British hospital ship "Asturias" off Havre on 1st February; and if the excuse offered that the distinctive marks showing the character of the ship were not recognised has any validity?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe master's report says:—
It was a very light and clear evening and at 5.15 broad daylight, and in no possibility could the character of the ship be mistaken.1380 The report further says:—Apart from the testimony of my officers, a number of people on board not only saw the course of the torpedo, but also observed the submarine following in our wake.As the submarine was herself seen by several of those in the "Asturias," it is difficult to believe that the ship's distinctive marks could have been mistaken.