Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-09-25
United States Believes Salts
factory Settlement is ;
Near
SHIPS GET WARNING
tU-Boat Allows Ample Time for Crew
to Leave Vessel. Although 1t Had
Reen Running Away.

Washington. Sept. 25-Develop-
ments during the present week, es-
necially those of the past 4S hours,
are convincing the administration IN
Washington that there will be a
thoroughly satisfactory solution OF
the controversy between the United
States and Germany growing out of,
the conduct of submarine warfare
against merchant vessels. These de-
veopments show that the German
government has not only been liv-
ing to the pledge which was given.
hy Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador, and has been con-
forming its submarine operations
against merchantmen to the require
ments of international law insisted
upon by the United States govern
ment. but that Germany has also
shown very conciliatory attitude
toward the United States and has
reached the point where it is willing
TO have German submarine comman-
ders give the benefit OF the doubt to
merchant ships rather than run the
risk of causing the loss OF life
through mistakes.
Chief among the developments
which have greatly pleased officials
of the administration are these:
Firse-The fair and proper attitude
Of the submarine commander who
torpedocd The British hose trans
port Anglo Columbia, off the Fastnet,
yesterday morning.
Second-The reply Of the German
government on the Frye case, in which
Germany agrees not to sink mer
chant ships carrying conditional con-
traband, as was done in the Frye
case.
Third-Unofficial information that
the Berlin government has issued
,ew instructions to submarine COM
,nanders under which. they are to
take mo chance of; making a mistake
in dealing with merchant ships and
which new Instructions require them.
when in doubt as to whether the
merchant ship has aggressive inten
tions. to permit the merchant ship to-
proceed and thus have the benefit Of
the doubt.
The attitude of the German SUD-
marine commander who sunk the
steamer AngioColumbia lis regard
cd as very significant in Washington
The sofiicial report to the State De-
paftment from Wesley: Frost, the
American consul at Queenstown, on
the. circumstances surrounding 1.-THE
destruction Of that merchant YES
sci, was, made public by the State
Department rs follows:
British horse transport, Anglo
Columbia, from Montreal to Eng
land torpedoed off Fastnet, after
chase of rs miles, at $50: Yesterday
morning. Fair. warning was given in
time to take to boats. Six Ameu-
cans in the crew. No casualties.
The action of the German subma'
rne commander. as thus officially re-
rorted to the State Department,
shows unmistakably that the COM
nlander of the submarine more than
lived up to the requirements OF. IN
ie,mational law and fulfilled every,
condition that has. been insisted upon
by the United States government IN
the submarine controversy. Inc
United States government has M
sisted that merchant ships should not
be sunk without warning so that
provision might he made for the es-
cape of passengers and crew. The
submarine commander gave the An
po-Columhia fair warning and every
body was saved. The most crafty
ing feature Of the report it it's dis
closure that no attempt was made
to torpedo the Anglo Columbia while
theslatter vessel was attempting to es-
cape, Consul Frost states that the
Anglo-Columbia was chased IS miles
This means that the Anglo Coumhi.
nor np),r tri,A !, a1,o6a tho apbp, q YIN,