Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-08
MAY NOT PROTEST
. GERMAN SEA ORDER
United States Probably Will Ask
tor Assurances Guarding Safety
of Persons on Enemy Ships.
NO REPORT ON FLAG INCIDENT
Hosting of Stars and Stripes on
Lusitania Likely to Be Subject
of Diplomatic Discussion.

! WASHINGTON. February Al
though the text of Germanys official
ralty's proclamation OF submarine
campaign against enemy merchant
ships has been delayed In transmission,
and did not reach the state Department
lication In the press OF the text OF the
document produced II profound impress
sion in the national capital
AS the memorandum revealed that
German naval commanders had been
ordered TO avoid violence" to neutral
ships, II WAS regarded much more
renssuring than the brief proclamation.
though there was som. uneasincss over
the suggestion In the memorandum that
efforts to torpedo enemy ships might
unintentionally strike neutral vessels.
President Wilspn and his Cabinet
have come TO no decision as to whether
the United States will enter q protest,
but 1t is believed some inquiry may be
made as to what steps are planned TO
take OFT passengers and crews from
enemy merchant ships as we'll as neu-
tral vessels
The Declaration OF London provides
that all persons aboard an enemy mer-
chant ship must be saved before the
vessel is destroyed
MAY NOT PROTEST.
If ASSURANCES ARE GIVEN
II assurances are given that mer-
chant ships will not be summarily de-
stroyed without giving an opportunity
for persons aboard to be saved, II is
regarded as certain that the America n
government. observing strict neutrality
will not protest against tho German
proclamation.
II was apparent among high officials
that the hoisting of the American flag
on the British steamer Lusitania i'm
mediately after the charge had been
made in the German admiralty's procla-
nation that neutral flags had been or
dered used by Great Britain was more
likely to call forth diplomatic discus
sion than the proclamation Itself
This incident may call forth an inquiry
tomorrow II Ambassador Page does
not report on 1t by then
The presence OF many close friends
and relatives OF high ofricials of the
American government on board the
Lusitania. and stories that the vessel
raised the American flag to protect
neutral passengers brought home to Of
hcials the question OF safety for
Americans travelling by sea and the
necessity for nm early UNDERSTANDING
While there is no law OF the United
states penalizing any vessel that enters
or leaves American ports for using the
American flag without authorization,
and no explicit rule on the subject ever
has been incorporated in international
law. the embarrassments which might
result from such practice caused much
speculation among diplomats The
German warning that neutrals should
not voyage on enemy merchant ships
probably will be needed 10 some extent
1t was thought, but the effect on those
Americans who are In Europe and plan
to return home by the big English and
French passenger liners was another
phase or the situation that was studied
ACTION AIMED CHIEFLY
AGAINST TROOP SHIPS
In some executive quarters II was be-
lieved that the German naval com
nianders had been given much more
strict instructions about caring for the
safety OF civilians of both enemy and
neutral countries on board merchant
vessels than has been made public.
The view suggested was that Germany's
action was aimed chiefly against the
cargoes OF contraband and the ,roop
ships crossing the English Channel
In this connection. it was said that
oncial information had been received
by the American government that for
the last month England had transported
an average Of 10000 men each week
across the Channel Official estimates
which have reached the American gov
ernment place the number of British
troops In the field now as close To 800
ooo, with the expectation that Kitch-
ener's army OF 100000 was likely to
be In France by spring
Germany's charge that England has
not respected neutral property aboard
enemy ships. and that neutral govern
ments have protested vainly in this re-
spect, was not generally known here
until the German memorandum was
made public.
WASHINGTON. REPORT SAYS,