“Don’t be too sure,” replied Lord Hastings. “Remember the incident of the firing of Turkish forts upon an American battleship launch at Beirut. Nothing came of that.”
“But,” protested Frank, “it is inconceivable that the United States will not take action if a German submarine has sent one of her merchant ships to the bottom.”
“Looks like an act of war to me,” said Jack.
“Germany will probably claim,” said Lord Hastings, “that the ship did not stay within the established safety channel, or else deny that a German submarine is responsible.”
“She might do the latter,” said Frank, “but I don’t believe the United States would accept the former explanation.”
But the United States eventually did, as it developed later, although she lodged a formal protest through her ambassador at Berlin.
“B-o-s-n-i-a,” Frank spelled out the name of the sinking ship, as the D-16 drew closer.
“I wonder if her crew is safe?” he asked anxiously.
Lord Hastings pointed across the water.
“You can see some of them in the small boats,” he said. “I hope they all get away. The submarine must have torpedoed them without warning.”