The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-09
SAYS NINE SHIPS ARE
VIOLATING NEUTRALITY

France. for delivery to military lines
of the British and French govern
ments. This ship is a transport in
the service Of the French and British
governments.
4. The steamship Venice has left
New York for Norfolk, Va. to take
on a shipment of horses for France.
This vessel IS a transport in the serv-
ice of the English and French gov.
ernments.
s. The steamship Virginia Is now
loading horses at Yonkers, N. Y. for
France. This vessel is transport
in the service of the English and
French governments.
6. The steamship Jethon, now at
piers Sc and 81. Hudson River, New
York, is taking on war supplies for
Havre. France. This vessel is trans
port in the service of the English and
French governments.
:. The steamship Pascal, now at pier
50, Hudson River, New York, is load
ing with ammunition and war supplies
for the British government. and Is
transport in the service of the British
government.
s. The steamship Iapland. at pier 50.
North River, New York. is now taxi
ing on a cargo Of gun carriages and
other war supplies intended for the
British government in violation of the
Federal statute as we'll as of inter-
national law.
D. The steamship Toronto. now at her
"a, North River. New York, Is taking
on load of ammunition and other
war supplies intended for the British
government
The peace council charges also that the
British and French governments have
been using the docks of the White Star
and Fabre lines to store for shipment on
their transports explosives, ammunition.
submarines and aeroplanes."
Hague Articles Cited.
The peace council cites several articles
from The Hague conventions in support
of their charge. but State Department
officials contended last night that none
of these citations was applicable. The
basis OF the charges seems to lie in tho
assertion by the peace council that most
Of these vessels are transports" oper-
ated by belligerent nation. 1t was con-
tended here that none Of the vessels Is
q transport in the sense In which that
term Is used legally. 1t Is possible for
vessels Of this kind to be In the service
of q belligerent government without
classed as war vessel.
The peace advocates summed up their
case in this way:
Calling your attention to these Soc
tons Of the treaties now in force, we beg
leave to enumerate the following prohibit
tons:
First. a private merchant ship OF
a belligerent country or private
merchant ship of our country cannot
load at our ports a submarine or
parts thereof
Cannot Load Planea.
Second. such merchant ships can
not load or carry hydro-aeroplanes
or component parts thereof whether
they are propelled by their own pow
er or transported on such vessels ~
. part Of the cargo.
third, IL the bslligersnt couptry's
though owned by private mer-
chantmen. has been chartered or reg.
istered by such government or other
wise put even in part under the con-
troll Of the belligerent nation for the
purpose Of 'ramming' or using the
vessel In any manner for warfare, Of
fensive or defensive. then the whole
ship becomes subject to the rules
governing q 'warship.' and such YES
sci will not be permitted to lead
1t our ports or sail from our ports
with any munitions Of war for such
bslligersnt country or her ports.
FOURTH . merchant ship owned Or
operated By . bslligsrent nation shall
not be permitted TO lead 1t our ports
RAy munitions OF war or ether con.
trahand goeda"
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