The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-23
BRITISH GOVERNMENT
RELEASES oil STEAMER
The John ID. Rockefeller, Recently
Seized by English Cruisers,
Now May Proceed.
NEWS TAKEN TO WHITE HOUSE
This Is Regarded as Indication OF
Personal Interest Felt in Case by
President Wilson-Further Pro-
tests Made to Great Britain.

WASHINGTON. October 22.-Sir Cecil
Spring-Ricc. the British ambassador.
was Informed to-day by the London
Foreign Office that the American tank
steamer John ID. Rockefeller, seized by
Bsitish cruisers, had been released.
The ambassador received no word
concerning the other American ships,
the Rrindilla and Platuria. His ad-
vices were communicated at once to
the White House, and that was taken
In official circles as an indication OF
the personal interest President Wilson
has taken In the case.
The British ambassador made the fol-
lowing statement. based on message
from the London Foreign Office:
The John u. Rockefeller was de-
tanned because there was nothing to
SHOW In her papers for whom the oil
she carried was destined. 1t was only
consigned To Order 1t has now been
ascertained that the oil in her tanks
was destined for the Danish Petroleum
Company. and that there is In Dem
mark an embargo on expectation. Dr.
rections were at once given for the
release OF the vessel. Fuel and lubri-
cants were declared conditional con-
traband ny the proclamation OF Au-
gust g."
UNITED STATES PROTESTS
TO GREAT BRITAIN
Acting Secretary Lansing, of the
state Department. announced to-day
that the United States had protested
to Great Britain against the seizure
OF the American steamer Brindilla. now
mt Halifax, ~. s., as unjustihable. and
demanded her immediate release.
Secretary Lansing said the Ameri-
can protest made through Ambassador
Page was similar to that lodged yestcr-
day against seizure of the John d.
Rockefeller. bound from Philadelphia
to Copenhagen He stated that the
Brindilla nlso was plying between
neutral ports-New York and Alex
andria. Egypt-and he was satisfied
that even though there had been a
change of registry from German to
Americans. the ownership was continue
ously American.
The cargoes OF both the Rockefeller
and the Brindiila contained illuminat-
ing oil. which has not been spccin-.
'caily declared contraband In any list
sent to .the State Department by Great
Britain, although officials here believe
Great Britain regards that oil is COW
ercdfin the general prohibition against
fuel"
1t is the British contention that IL
Eliminating oil can be used for pro
Polling Eeppelins. submarines and tor
pedo boats Quantities shipped to
Copenhagen raised suspicious that the
oil might find its way to the German
naval and aerial base at the kleI
Canal.
MATTER FOR ENGLAND
AND DENMARK no ADJUST
The viewpoint OF the United States
is that this would lie matter for
England and Denmark to adjust. csDe-
cially since an embargo on the expor-
tatinn of petroleum has been declared
byTDcnmark. uceording to the under
standing of State Department officials.
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice. the British
ambassador. conferred with Mr.. Ian
sing concerning the various seizures
Inter the American consul at Halifax
had experienced some difficulty in In
terviewinG the captain of the Brin-
dilIa to obtain facts of her seizure.
but that the British ambassador had
promptly adjusted tile incident
No complete report had been received
to-day at either the British embassy
or the state Department of the circum-
stances under which third tank
steamer Of the Standard OIL Company
the Platuria-was seized. but II IL
believed another protest Will he made
as the facts in her case arc reported
to be similar to that of the John ID.
Rock efeller.
The State Departments protest against
the seizure Of the steamer Brindilla
and her detention ut Halifax. with the
demand for her release, was not in the
nature OF an ultimatum, according To
the state Department officials. The
department itself Is ignorant OF too
MANY facts TO deal with the case. but
the protest was lodged to save. all legal
points, and the result will be awaited
before further action Is taken.
Tie british embassy announced to-
night that official reports from Hall
fax said the crew OF the Brindllla at