The Washington times., 1915-11-14
Chase Along Atlantic Three.
Mile Line Brings Question
Before Officials.
CURT EXCHANGES DENIED
No Report Received That Bat.
tIeship Texas Cleared for
Action When Told to Stop.

The pursuit OF the American-owned
steamer Vinland b. a British cruiser
on the very border Of the three-rnile
limit from New York to Norfolk
brought before officials Of the State and
Navy Department the question OF the
necessity OF issuing warning to the
British government to maintain a safer
distance from American waters In their
commerce raiding activities.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels had
not received official advices today con-
hrming a published report that a squad
ron Off battleships entering Hampton
Roads had exchanged curt messages
with British cruiser which was
crowding the three-mile limit.
Navy officials denied that the battle
ship Texas recently had cleared for ac-
ton when called on to stotp by a Brit
ish cruiser at night. as stated In a Nor
folk dispatch. because they said an in
cident as grave as this would have been
reported to the department.
No Official Warning.
No official warning to British vessels
&c remain outside American territorial
waters had as yet been given by the
feet or the department. 1t was de-
clared.
State Department officials. however.
look upon the Vinland incident as one
more count in their indictment against
British sea aggression. and II was de-
clared today that action will be taken
tomorrow looking to relief from British
activity lin the territory bordering
American waters.
The first step taken. law officers OF
will be to submit to the British gov
ernment q request for safe passage FOR
the steamer Winnebago. of the Ameri::
can trans Atiantic line. sister ship of
New York. This will be the first move
BY the Government to safeguard ships
Of this line from any prosecution at
sea.
Ships On Blacklist.
The British government has placed
all the ships OF the American Trans
Atlantic line on its blacklist The Hook
ing was seized at sea and taken before
a prize court at Halifax. An attempt
was made to seize the Maumee Of the
same line at Copenhagen. II Is asserted.
II was assisted to escape by NOR
wesian war vessel. The Winnebsgo Is
a cargo for New York that cannot be
moved because the British threaten to
seize the vessel The Ausable Is simi :
larly tied up at Galveston awaiting safe
passage. Inc Nlnidnu, Oh tne SdTle hne'
now awaiting American registry. was
chased all the way down the coast from
New York to Norfolk and escaped cap
ture by the narrowest margin.
Sworn anidavits are now before the
State Department In which President
Wagner. of the American Trans-At-
lantic Company declares that every
dollar invested In his corporation Is
American money. and that no foreign
capitalists are interested either In the
stock or ships of the corporation.
Safe Passage Asked.
Accepting this testimony as proof
of American ownership the State De-
partment has announced that It will
forward to the British government
the request of the owners for safe
passage for the Winnebago.
Whether the department will follow
this action bv direct Intervention In
the case OF the Hooking has mot been
decided Great Britain based Its seiz.
ure of the Hooking solely on the ques-
tion of ownership, holding that German
money financed the Wagner interests
The Government takes issue with this
claim inI the case Of the Winnebago
and the question now considered Ia
whether a demand should be made fol
the release OF the HockiSg from prize
court proceedings.
The firm action decided on with ref.
crence to the British attacks on YES
sells of the Wagner line forecasts g
firmer attitude by the Government ir
MAINTAINING its neutral rights at sea,