New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-21
Tell Bryan Two Are To
Re Sent to Canada for
British.
SCHWAB FIRM AMONG
SEVERAL MENTIONED
Secretary of State Believes the
Bethlehem Company Will
Stick to Promise.
LII IN. Tnhuns Ru-sAa.

Washington. Feb. 20.-German Sc
90, ,rcnts m the United States have
-.ro,ted 70 the German Embassy at
Wellington that they have informa-
..., % prove that within a fortnight
so submarines now being constructed
Ell. American shipyards will be eovertly
,.,;v,re5 IN Canada for assembling and
80, Transported 10 Europe as part
= the British navy. With this infor-
,stion as a basis the German and
austro- hungarian embassies to-day
.,,veycd 20 the State Department a
-smorsrdum setting forth their sus-
oiejors and calling the attention OF
secretary Bryan to the fact that TO
oermit the expectation of these yes
,sis assembled or in parts would be
,scsrdcd by both imperial governments
&C an unncutral act. The German En-
bs,sy gave out the following state
-ert ON the subject:
aTAc plants Of Bethlehem and the
rrior Iron Works az san Francisco arc,
according 10 reliable information, send
M the component parts Of submarines
ordered by the British government to
Canada. Submarines fox England are
also built 81 Boston and Seattle.
The attention of the United States
DEPARTMENT Of State has been drawn
10 these facts by the German and Aus
ro.Hungariau embassies as being IN
contradiction with tho laws of neutral
ity."
The German government cites as an
example Of the intentions of the Amer
ican shIpbuildcrs the fact that shortly
after the outbreak Of the present war
TWO submarines constructed in an
American yard were delivered 70 the
Gillian government. which had con-
;racted for them many months before.
These submarines were delivered TO
the Gillian government, which imme-
diateiy after their delivery started
rumor that the vessels were unsatls-
factory, and Immediately they were
sent 10 canada. Canada purchased
them from the CHILEAN government, and
from that day forward the Ch!ians
have been under suspicion from the
Germans for having dealt with Great
Britain IN an unneutral and unfair
manner.
A. the Navy Department to-day Sec
votarv Daniels said that there were
under construction at the Fore River
Snipbuilding Company's plant, at
Quincy, Mass. ten submarines for
foreign government which fact had
been reported 70 him from his own
Observers employed IN that yard. From
as,milsr source Mr. Daniels has been
Informed that there are ten such ships
beng constructed al the Union Iron
WORKS Al San Francisco. He said he
did not know that submarines for for
eign uavies were being built at either
Seattle or Boston II was said that
the submarines being built at Quincy
and San Francisco had been contracted
Tor hy Great Britain before the out
break Of hostilIties and could not be
delivered until the wfr was over. The
inspectors had reported that none of
these boats could be completed for sew
eral months and that none Of their
component parts have been shipped by
the builders.
So far rs the officials here know, no
breach Of the agreement between
Charles VI. Schwab, president of the
Bethlehem steel Company, and the gov
eminent is contemplated. but II was
made evident that, notwitt standing the
legal opinion secured by the Steel com
pany affirming its rights TO ship parts
Of war vessels TO belligeTents, the gov
eminent viii not permit this 20 be done
without appealing TO the supreme
Court II the courts are invoked by the
shipbuildors.
Al the State Department Secretary
Bryan WAS not clear as to the German
warning. He said that some months
ago he had come 10 an understanding
with Mr.. Schwab to ihe effect that 10
submarines or parts thereof would be
delivered 10 belligercnt governments
during the period of the war. He was
Of the opinion that Mr.. Schwab's com
pany would adhere = the understand
ng and seemed disposed TO think that
the German alarm was premature ana
llfoundcd.
Il is regarded as probable That in
view Of the representations from Ger
many, rcaSsuring answer Will be sent
20 Ambassador Won Rernstorf on the
subject. and the SPECIAL agents Of the
Department Of Justice will be called
upon 10 take careful survey OF
American shipyards with view 10 as
Suring the United States government
that no infraction Of the neutrality law
is in contemplation at any OF them'
South Bethlehem. Penn, Feb. 70
None Of the officials of the Bethiehem
Steel Company would say anything TO-
day in regard to the complaints maze
By the German and tro-Hungariah
governments that the steel company Is
Participating in the building OF sections
Of submarines for shipment TO Eng
land As the company has large con
tracts for guns and gun carriages lot
European countries the entire plant ID
closely guarded. and silence as TO the
concerns business is the rule among
al It's officials. The only person au-
shorized 10 speak for the Bethlehem
Steel Company, they said, IS IT'S presl-
dent. Charles NJ. Schwab, who is in
New York.
Quincy. Mass, Feb. 2O.--It was stat
ed AT the Offices Of the Fore River
shipbuildng Company to-day that
there was nothing TO be said regard
Ing the complaint Of Germany and Aus
tria Hungary that parts of submarines
we're being made in New England for
Great Britain.
!, had been understood locally that
ten submarines were under eonstruc-
ton here for a foreign government,
but that no attemp; would be made TO
deliver them until after the close oil
tie war.
The matter was investigated By gov
eminent officials in November, at which
time President J. X. Powell admitted
that contracts had been received, but
explained that the company had deeid-
ed not 70 MI them. In January, how
ever II wes nnofic ially stated that the