One of the
Tubantia's small boats drifted ashore. In the boat was a fragment of a
Schwarzkopf torpedo--a type manufactured and used only by Germany. This
fragment was forwarded to Berlin, with another and more urgent demand
for explanation, apology, and reparation.

The German newspapers coolly replied with the astounding statement that
there had been two or three Schwarzkopf torpedoes in naval museums in
England, and that this particular specimen had probably been given to a
British submarine and used by her to destroy the good ship Tubantia.

Again Holland would have been left helpless, choking with indignation,
but for a second accident. Another of the lost steamship's boats was
found, and in it there was another fragment of the torpedo. This
fragment bore the mark of the German navy, telling just when the torpedo
was made and to which of the U-boats it had been issued.

With this bit of damning evidence in his bag a Dutch naval expert was
sent to Berlin to get to the bottom of the crime and to demand justice.
He got there, but he found no justice in that shop.

The German navy is very systematic, keeps accurate books, makes no
accidental mistake. The pedigree and record of the Schwarzkopf were
found. It was issued to a certain U-boat on a certain date. Undoubtedly
it was the missile which unfortunately sank the Tubantia. All this was
admitted and deeply regretted. But Germany was free from all
responsibility for the sad occurrence. The following amazing reason was
given by the Imperial German Government.

This certain U-boat had fired this certain torpedo at a British
war-vessel somewhere in the North Sea ten days before the Tubantia was
sunk. The shot missed its mark. But the naughty, undisciplined little
torpedo went cruising around in the sea on its own hook for ten days
waiting for a chance to kill somebody. Then the Tubantia came along, and
the wandering-Willy torpedo promptly, stupidly, ran into the ship and
sank her. This was the explanation. Germany was not to blame. (See the
official report in the Orange Books of the Netherlands Government, July,
1916, December, 1916.)

This stupendous fairy-tale Holland was expected to believe and to accept
as the end of the affair. She did not believe it. She had to accept it.
What else could she do? Fight? She did not want to share Belgium's
dreadful fate. The Dutch Government proposed that the whole Tubantia
incident be submitted to an international commission.