The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-10-22
BRITISH IN PROTEST
TWO NEUTRALITY PROBLEMS PUT
UP TO PRESIDENT BY
GREAT BRITAIN.
WIRELESS STATION INVOLVED
Arrival Of German Warshlp at Hon.
oluIu stlrs Naval Authorities to
Quiz Operators In Charge Of the
Plant.


Washington, Oct. 19.-President Will
son was confronted by two serious
questions in connection with the neu-
trality Of the United States.
The first was in the form Of a pro-
test presented by the British ambas-
sador that the port of Manila, in the
Philippine island, was being used as
a base for German warships operating
In the Pacific ocean.
The second arose through the action
Of the Marconi wireless station at
Honolulu in flashing to the United
States and about the Pacific ocean the
fact Of the arrival at that port of the
German gunboat Geier.
The British protest was supported
by instances where steamers have
loaded coal and other supplies at
Manila, and while clearing for a des-
ignated port have merely touched at
that port and gone to an unknown port,
where they have transferred their
stores to German men-of-war.
One steamer, the Rio Pasig alleged
to have engaged in this operation, was
captured and taken to Hongkong,
where it is expected the vessel will be
condemned as a prize.
But the capture of one steamer has
by no means broken up the illegal
practice. According to information
received by the British government,
other ships are sailing out of Manila
carrying cargoes ordered by the Ger
man cruisers. AS a result the Germans
have been able to keep at sea and do
damage to British and Japanese trade.
There are British and Japanese
cruisers in the vicinity of the Philip
pines but it is impossible for them to
detain ships which have cleared for
certain neutral ports and which are
en- route for those ports. When their
clearance papers establish that they
have touched at their ports of destina-
tion and are proceeding elsewhere,
still with the supplies aboard they car
ried originally from Manila, then they
are subject to belligerent law.
In view of the British complaint,
Secretary Garrison, who has charge of
all Philippine matters sent a long ca
blegram to Governor-General Harrison
directing him to make a thorough in
vestigation. The governor-general also
will issue warning against violation
OF neutrality and Of the penalty of
seizure which will follow its violation.
With reference to the action of the
Marconi station at Honolulu in giving
publicity to the news of the arrival of
the Geier, a conference took place at
the White House between the presi-
dent, Acting Secretary of State Ian
sing and Acting Secretary of the
Navy Roosevelt. Thereupon Rear Ad-
miral Moore, in command of the naval
station at Honolulu, was instructed
to close the station unless a satisfac- |
tory explanation was made within "a
hours.
The matter is Of the highest impor-
tance, because the radiogram sent |
from the station circles about the |
Pacific, conveying the fact of the ar
rival of the Geier for coal to British !
and Japanese warshlps. Undoubtedly |
they are hurrying tonight toward Hon.
olulu
Again, a Japanese liner was due to |
day at Honolulu. Informed of the |
presence of the Geier-she is equipped |
with wireless-she probably will alter
her course and thus evade capture.
The Geier will remain at Honolulu
until repairs are made in the warship's
engines.
The seriousness of the violation of
neutrality which took place at Hon.
olulu is appreciated by the president,
though no protest yet has been made
by Germany. According to Rear Ad-
miral Moore, the message was sent
while the censor's back was turned.
The operator responsible may be pun
ished for his action.