New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-09

.Srsnco5 ~ International law, Il was
Said bv some naval officers, ma! u
velop an entirely new SITUATION d"
nection with submarine warfare.
The IuSitania incident eNoNeu
speech In the House BY Representa''Ne
Martin ~ South Dakota. VINO an
nounced that he favored Legislation a.
Ms session 20 prohibit the use OF 'ne
American colors on any but American can
vessels. and to make II an oHcu1e
the master OF any foreign -
whether belligeveut or not, u ~ -
American flag over snip ' - ~
penalty should be the con- ,,,,r,ard.
I've vessel and a fine for the comiRahu
or in event the ship returned TO amen
can jurisdiction. D., ,--,,o4
The state Department to-day 'ssueu
q denial OF reports that eHoI5aa,'' ~
Page had telegraphed that the nt'' -
government. after having secure NV
Gamer OF the cargo OF the W lhei nina ls
wouid seize al cargoes OF foodsiu"s
destined 90 Germany without Hah'ue
compensation therefor ne SePaL'
ment said 10 was an error, as 'he 90
bsssador had not discussed 'he ma
ter Of compensation 10Y sueh '"'s0''
NJ may be seized. 80. avocu.
The general understanding III eNee. .
so. onarters i that the British gov
eminent still intends 10 seize al cor
goes of foodstuAs destined 70 Germany
bouob whether there will be compeh-
sation is not known. ~.
To the lay mind the presence on 'he
shin OF Colonel L. NJ. House OF 4tNas'
Who went abroad In serni-o!hcia. capac'-
tyasthe indirect representative o. ies
ident Wilson, his closest friend. IuI ,,
nished added proof OF the seml-nauo''a'
character OF the LusltGnia ana her IN
portAnce as the carrier OF a PasseHb''
of national importance.
Could Not Conceal Identity.
II is suggested by naval officers
hat tho idcs Of conccallug the nation.
alty Of the Lusitania by the use OF
an American flag is too ridiculous 70
be tenable The Lusitania IS more man
$50 feet longer than any vessel IN the
American merchant marine, ana DeSIues
she has four huge smoke tunnels, WheFe-
as no American merchant snip sai!lhg
Inc seas sports more than three. Inc ma
tionality Of the Lusitania was therefore
altogether evident from her contour
Tor the only remaining four-funhe.
.hips outside the British express steam =
ers are the German liners now lnterneo
or the war either at HObOken or IN
German harbors.
Naval officers said to-day that the
navy regulations permit n waTshIp 10
7v another flag than It's own, but spe,
Critically provide II must be hau'eo
down and the ships own flag must be
hoisted before a sho. IS hred. mere
arc many incidents IN naval history
where that has been done. the latest
being the German sea rover EmGeh'
which hoisted the japanese nag JUS
before making daring raid At fehahs'
Experts in naval procedure rceaneH no
case. however, where a merchantmen
was involved. -,
When CAPTAIN Glass. commanding
Tho cruiser Charleston. on his way 10
The Philippines with a convoy OF troops,
STONED and captured Guam he ordered
the Jspanese flag TO be flown on his
flagship and on the ships Of has hotliia'
He signalled this message 70 the
steamers Australia. Picking and sydney
merchant ships under charter 10 the
government and in use as troopsnlps;
Passing signal station at Guam
Charleston will hoist Japanese eoiors;
other vessels same or none.
The deception was aided by he TACT
that the Charleston WAS similar IN APP
iearance 20 the Japanese cruiser Ma
Iiwa.
Use OF Flag tpheld.
All the authorities on international
law and the manual in use at the NavaI
War College Justify the use Of other
flags on warships. The Naval War Col
lCge manual says:
"The regulations Of the United
States navy state that the use OF for
cign flag 70 deceive an enemy is per
Missile. but that il must be haulec
q
TO circumstances is an action 70 b'
commenced or a battle fought withou
the display Of the national ensign"
The records of international law
however. contain few instances IL
which the use of a foreign flag on {
merchantmen has come into question
One instance, though not in time OF
war, came up during the term of Sec
rotary Sherman in the State Depart
ment, in which the London Board OF
Trade interviewed TO stop improper dis
play OF a United States flag. These
are Secretary Sherman'S words
"A line OF steamers plying between
England and the United States under
the British flag has for some year:
used the United States Union Jack as
its housefae. Upon inquiry being
made by the ambassador in London
the British Board Of Trade interviewed
IN virtue Of It's authority in matters
Of shipping and navigation, and | am
Just informed that the line in question
has been constrained to adopt another
distinctive house flag"
In May. 1908. the American Minister
20 Brazil brought TO the notice of the
Brazilian government the fact that q
Brazilian line Of sailing vessels was
using a house flag resembling one OF
the forms Of the national ensign OF
the United States. The complaint was
referred 70 the Navy Department OF
Brazil, and the American Minister was
subsequently, informed that the Brazil
ian firm owning the vessels in queS.
ton had ordered another flag to bC
substituted for that which had been In
use.
Chairman Stone Of the Senate For.
eign Relations Committee, White
House caller to-day. said that in III,
opinion the flying of the American fag
by the Lusitania was an Improper US,
OF the flag" Senator Stone added that
il would be possible for Congress e
adopt a resolution protesting agains'
the incident, but that he thought il {
matter 10 be handled entirely by tn,
Executive branch Of the government.
Germany Will Sink Only