Evening star., 1915-02-21
U. S. Concerns Not to Be Al
lowed to Furnish Subma-
rines to England.
GERMANY AND AUSTRIA
FATHER COMPLAINTS
This Government Will Continue to
Insist Upon the Strict
est Neutrality.

investigation of the renewed COM
plants made here yesterday by the
| State Department in behalf of the Ger
man and Austro- Hungarian govern
ments that submarines are being built
for England In the United States and
shipped in parts to Canada.
High government officials made 1t
plain that this practice will not be
allowed. and should appeal be made
the government would carry the case
before the Supreme Court of the United
States.
United States Not to Be Deferred.
So far as officials know, the Bethle-
hem Steel Company has no intention of
breaking the agreement made by its
president, Charles NJ. Schwab, with the
government several months ago. A
legal opinion secured by the steel COM
pany. affirming its right to ship parts
of war vessels to belligerents, will not
deter the government from an in
sistence on strict neutrality, 1t was
pointed out from the highest authority.
Charles NJ. Schwab. president of the
Bethlehem Steel Company and owner
of the Union Iron Works, is said to
have cancelled similar contracts with
the British government several months
ago, after conference with Secretary
Bryan, on the theory that they con-
stituted a violation of the neutrality
laws.
Building Extra Submarines.
Naval officers detailed at the various
private yards where contracts for the
United States government are being
executed recently reported to Secretary
Daniels that the Union Iron Works of
San Francisco and the Fore River
Shipbuilding Company of Quincy Mass,
were building ten submarines each In
addition to those they have under con
struction for the United States. 1t
was said these had been contracted for
by Great Britain before the outbreak
OF hostilities and could not be delivered
until the war was over.
The inspectors reported that none of
these boats could be completed for sew
eral months and that none of their
component parts has been shipped by
the builders.
Steel Officials Silent.
SOUTH BETHLEHEM, Pa, February
2o.-None Of the officials of the Bethle-
hem Steel Company would say any
thing today in regard to the complaints
made by the German and Austro-Hun-
garian governments that the steel COM
pany Is participating in the building of
sections of submarines for shipment to
England The company has large con-
tracts for guns and gun carriages for
European countries, the entire plant is
closely guarded and silence as to the
concerns business is the rule among
all its officials. The only person
authorized to speak for the Bethlehem
dent, Charles NJ. Schwab, who is in
New York.
Refuse to Comment
QUINCY. Mass. February 20.-It was
stated at the offices Of the Fore River
Shipbuilding Company today that there
was nothing to be said regarding the
complaint of Germany and Austria-Hun-
gary that parts of submarines were being
made in New England for Great Britain.
1t has been understood locally that ten
submarines were under construction here
for foreign government, but no attempt
would be made to deliver them until
after the close of the war. The matter
was investigated by government officials
in November. at which time President
Powell admitted that contracts had been
received, but explained that the company
had decided not to fill them In Janu-
ary. however, it was unofficially stated
that the contracts were being carried out,
with the understanding that the boats
would remain in the yard until the close
of the war.
1t is known that no shipments Of
completed submarines have been made
from here since hostilities began.
Hulls Were Started.
SAN FRANCISCO. February 2o.-om-
GERS of the Union Iron Works here ad-
mitted some time ago that work on the
hulls of eight submarines was being
done here. in fulfllment of subcon-
tract placed by Charles NJ. Schwab
When Mr.. Schwab announced that he
had Cancelled his contract in compliance
with President Wilson'S definition of
also had been stopped here.
Not Building Vessels.
SEATTLE, February 20.-After read
ing Ambassador Bernstorff's complaint
that submarines were being built in
Seattle for Great Britain, President ].
v. Paterson of the Seattle Construction
and Dry Dock Company. which has
built many submarines. said:
I'VE are not building any submarines
or parts of submarines for any coun-
try at present. Under the law we have
the right to build submarines here,
take them to pieces and ship them any
where, but our plant is now entirely
idle so far as submarines are con-
cerned."
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