Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-16
GERMANY ADMITS
LIABILITY FOR LOSS
OF NEBRASKAN
Expresses Regret and Of
fers to Compensate Amer
lean Citizens.
ACTION OF SUBMARINE
JUSTIFIED BY BERLIN
United States Will Insist on
View That Attack Was
Illegal.
VERY SIMILAR TO FRYE CASE
Points Raised Will Require Dispatch
of Note Further to Conserve
American Rights.

WASHINGTON. July l6.-Germany's
admission OF liability and expression OF
regret to-day for the German subma-
-ine attack the American steamer
Nebraskan pleased oHlcials here but II
was the general opinion that legal
points raised would require the dis
patch OF note further 70 conserve
American rights in the war zone 4
memorandum stating Germany's posi-
ton reached tho State Department
through bassador Gerard at Berlin
Legal officers OF the American gov
eminent who examined the German
memorandum pointed out that in many
respects the case rescmbled that OF tho
William T. Frye. the American ship
sunk by the Prinz Eitel Friedrich In
both cases Germany has expressed re-
grei and has offered to compensate
American citizens. but the action OF
the German commanders has been de-
ciared justified. To admit this. officials
say. would establish a dangerous pre-
cedent.
In tho Frye case Germany contended
that It was q fair Inference from the
language OF the Prussian-A n-American
treaty OF 1925 that an American ship
carrying contraband could be destroyed
~ there were no other way to stop
transportation OF contraband. Tho
United States objects to this construc-
t!on OF tho treaty. and in the case OF
the Nebraskan probably will place on
record It's view that the attack, even
though payment is assured and regrets
expressed, was an illegal act
NEBRASKAN CASE PROVES
NECESSITY OF "vISI'T-,
officials take the view that the Ne
braskan ease proves conclusIvely that
mcrchantman must be visited before
attack 20 determine its nationality and
the character of It's cargo Some high
officials do not believe the United
states would insist that in exercising
the right Of visit the subma rine COM
mander actually be required TO board
a mcrchantnan, but would hold that
a ship could be visited" by signaling
= warning 10 stop and asking for the
submission OF papers.
Tn" German memorandum was the
subject Of much comment in official
quarters because IL bears out con-
illusions reached by Lieutenant John
RI. Towers. American naval attache in
London, who forwarded fragments Of
metal found IN the Scbraskan with his
expression Of opinion that the vessel
was torDcdoed. In the case of the
Gulfight. too American naval con-
structors in London established that
the vessel was torpedoed
The Navy Departments report on the
Nebraskan never has been made public,
nut. in view OF the admission by Ger
many to-day. officials said that tho
nndIngs OF navy officers were confirmed
by the German Foreign Once memo
randum.
Secretary Lans,ngs announcement
follows:
Ambassador Gerard has telegraphed
to the Department OF State the follow
ing memorandum from the German
Foreign Office relative to the damaging
OF the American steamer Sebraskan by
a German submarine:
The German government received
from newspaper reports the lntelli-
gence that the American steamer Ne
braskan had been damaged by a mine
or torpedo on the southwest coast Of
Ireland. 1t. therefore, started a
thorough investigation OF the case
without delay, and from the result Of
the investigation it has become CON
vinced that the damage to the Ne
hraskan was caused by an attack by
a submarine.
NO NEUTRAL MARKINGS
SEEN on STEAMER
ON the evening of May 25 last the
submarine met a steamer bound west
ward without n flag, and with no neu-
tral markings on her freeboard, about
thirty-fve nautical miles west Of Fast
net Rock; no appliance of any kind
for the illumination Of the flag or
markings was to be seen In the twI-
light. which had already set in, the
name Of the steamer was not visible
from the submarine. Since the COM
mander OF the submarine was obliged
to assume from his wide experience in
the area of maritime war that ONLY
English steamers and no neutral
steamers, traversed this war area with
out flag and markings, he attacked the
vessel with a torpedo, In the conyic
tion that he had an enemy vessel before
him.
Some time after the shot the com
mander saw that the vessel had in
tho meantime hoisted the American
flag. AS consequence. he. of course.
refrained from any further attaclk
Since the vessel remained afloat. ne
had no occasion to concern himself
further with the boats which had been
launched.
"It results from this without q
doubt. that attack on the steamer Ne
braskan was not mean for the Ameri-
can flag, nor is it .raceable to any|
fault on the part Of the commander Of
the German submarine. but is to be
considered an unfortunate accident.
The German government expresses its
regret at the occurrence to the govern
ment Of the United States of America.
(Continued on Second Pace