The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-03-19
WILSON ANNOUNCES WHATEVER
ACTION Is TAKEN WILL BE
BASED UPON RESULT OF
THAT INQUIRY.
PROTEST TO GERMANS
AGAINST VESSELS LOSS
United States Is Almost Certain to Ask
for Damages and an Explanation
From Teutons-No Criminal Pro-
ceedings Likely, but Piracy
Charge May Be Brought.

Washington, March 12.-High of
ficiais of the Washington government
and diplomats stationed here were
agreed on the point that the German
converted auxiliary cruiser Prinz Eitel
Friedrich had no right to send to the
bottom of the sea the American SAIL
ing ship Frye.
1t was also agreed that unless the
German government voluntarily Of
fers to make restitution for the loss
of the Frye and expresses regret for
the occurrence, the matter will be
made the basis of communication of
strong protest and demand for rep
Rration.
Washington, March 12.-President
Wilson has announced that search
ing inquiry will be made" into the
sinking of the American sailing ship
liam P. Frye by the German aux
cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich.
ltement was issued at the
ouse:
resident, when asked regard
mixing of the American sail
William P. Frye, by the Ger
Hillary cruiser PrinZ Eitel
/, said:
lost searching inquiry will be
and whatever action is taken
be based upon the result of that
.quiry."
Neutrality Board Reports.
The neutrality board has made re-
port which, it is understood, recon-
mends that the Prinz Ethel Friedrich
be permitted to make such repairs as
would make her ''seaworthy" under
the supervision of American naval au-
thorities, if the commander of the Ger
man ship requests it.
The British steamer Chasas, said to
have been one of the Prinz Eiters
prizes, sunk in the South Pacific last
December, was owned by the New
York and Pacific Steamship Company, |
British corporation which already |
has placed four of it's ships under
American registry.
Protest to Germany Likely.
Discussion of the affair in official
quarters was taken to foreshadow
strong protest to Germany against the
sinking of the American vessel.
The contention of the German COM
mander that the American ship had
contraband of war aboard and there
fore destruction was justified has been
set up as a plea in other cases, but
never has been recognized by the
United States as the only justification
for such action on the part of a bel
igerent.
Piracy Charge Possible.
The fact that the Prinz Eitel Fried
erich was commanded by a German
naval officer, under commission from
the German government, and the fact
that no lives were lost when the Frye
was sunk, transferred the case from
the realm of criminal proceedings I'M :
der the federal statutes, under pos {
sible charge of piracy and makes it a
subject of diplomatic negotiations with
the object of gaining reparation for
the owners and a disclaimer of I'M
u. S. to Ask Damages.
That the United States would ask
for damages and an explanation from
the GeTHldu government WAS ie5dluou
as certain. Some officials thought the
German government would find itself
compelled to repudiate the act of the
German captain or abandon the posi-
lion taken by Germany in recent CORE
spondence with the United States on
The subject of conditional contraband
Ind foodstuffs.
Precedents in international law re-
zeal that the circumstances under
which neutral governments have &C.
Iuiesced in the destruction of their
7essels in time Of war are very few.