New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-06
No Grounds for Argument
Against Great Britain
Given Germany.
S22S,O59.54 INDEMNITY
DEMANDED FOR SHIP
Text Reads Full Reparation,
Which, Bryan Says, Does
Not Mean Apology.
linn He TrIhune Bureau ]

Washington, April 5.-The United
States note to Germany demanding
renaration for the destruction OF the
American four-masted ship William T.
FRYE evades discussion Of the rights OF
belligerents on the high seas when
Germany might use as basis OF argu-
ment against Great Britain.
The note asks an indemnity OF SZZS'-
! O59.54. which represents the cost OF the
vessel. the loss upon the actual freisht'
the expenses Of recording the CLAIM
/ the personal property loss of the mas
ter. Captain II. II. Kienne. and dam
ages of S37,5OO, covering loss due to
/ deprivation Of use of ship"
In statement accompanying the
text of the note the State Department
/ said: ,,i.
Ambassador Gerard says the Minis
ter for Foreign Affairs promised an
early reply and stated that he was
without information regarding the mat
/ tor. hut understood that negotiations
we're under way already between Ber-
( lin and Washington. The ambassador
adds that the legal department Of the
| Foreign Office is now considering the
points Of law included.
/ The instruction to Ambassador &C.
rard. who delivered the note 70 the I'M
perial Minister for Foreign Aiiairs 'asI
/ Friday, read -. ..o
/ following note to the German foreIsn
/ Office:
"Under instructions from my govern
mont | have the honor 70 present a
/ claim for 1923 ,059.5i, with interest from
/ January %. 1915, against the German
/ government on behalf Of the owners
/ and captain Of the American sailing
vessel William =. Frye, for damages
( suffered by them on account OF the de-
/ struction of that vessel on the hlga
seas by the German armed cruiser
Prinz Eitel Friedrich, on January Is,
/ 1915.
"The facts upon which this claim
arises and By reason of which the Ger
man government is held responsible by
the government of the Uuited states
for the attendant loss and damage are
briefly as follows:
"The william =. Frye. a steel sail
ing vessel, Of 1874 tons gross tonnage,
owned by American citizens and sail
| ing under the United States nag and
register, cleared from Seattle, Wash
November 4, 1914, under charter to NJ.
II. Houser, Of Portland, Ore, bound for
Queenstown, Falmouth or Plymouth for
orders, with a cargo consisting solely
Of 186.950 bushels Of wheat, owned by
the aforesaid Houser, and consigned
unto order or 10 its assigns all OF
which appears from the ships papers,
which we're taken from the vessel at
the time Of her destruction by the
commander Of the German cruiser.
"On January 27, 1915, the Prinz Eitel
Friedrich encountered the Frye on the
high seas; compelled her TO stop, and
sent on board an armed boarding
party. who took possession. After an
examination Of the ships papers the
commander of the cruiser directed that
the cargo be thrown overheard, but
subsequently decided to destroy the
vessel. and on the following morning,
by his order, the Frye was sunk
"The claim of the owners and cap
tain consists of the following items:
"Vaue of ship, equipn ent and outfit,
$4,000.
actual freight, as per freight list
5,034, 1,00O-2,240 tons, st 1926, $3.50
1876 at S48O S39, 1884.
Travelling and other expenses Of
Captain Kiehne and Arthur Sewall 6
Co.. agents of the ship, in connection
with making affidavits, preparing and
filing claim, $500.
Personal effects Of Captain H. H.
Kiehne, $500.
Damages covering loss due 10 dep
rive ION pf tfca of shin 81 300
Total, sos, 059.54.
"By direction Of my government,
have the honor TO request that full
reparation be made by the German
government for the destruction of the
William p. Frye by the German cruiser
BRYAN"
Secretary of State Bryan was asked
If the concluding paragraph of the note
which requests full reparation" might
be construed as a demand for an
apology. lie said it referred exclusive
ly to the indemnity
Because the cargo became British
owned en- route, no claim for damages
was presented by the previous Ameri-
can shippers. The payment of the
freight charges asked for by the own
ers OF the Frye depends upon the de
cision Of the German prize court, which
will decide whether the cons lgnment OF
wheat to private firm in England
made it free from seizure.
The German contention in the vii
helmna case has been that such ship
ments are not liable TO seizure, and Off
Gals here do not anticipate any differ
ent attitude in this case. II is reported
that the German Ambassador already
had recommended the payment of an
indemnity for the loss of the vessel.
RAILROAD FINED 100000