Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-03-12
Washington Officials to Ask
Complete Reparation for
Vessels Loss.
SEARCHING INQUIRY
TO BE CONDUCTED
Mere Fact That Steamer
Carried Contraband Not
Sufficient to Sink Her.

NTASHlNGTON, March 11.-Un-
w less the German government
voluntarily offers to make restitution
for the destruction of the American
ship Frye, sunk by the converted
cruiser Prinz Eite Friedrich in the
south Atlantic. and expresses regret
for the occurrence, strong protest will
be made by the United states with a
request for reparation.
No announcements concerning tho
case probably will be made, it was
said by high officials, until after an
Investigation of all the facts had been
completed President Wilson at the
White House stated during the day
that a searching inquiry would be con-
Quoted
Officials were unanimous In their
opinion and IL was shared largely by
diplomatists too--that the commander
OF the Prinz Eitel had no right to send
the Frye TO the bottom. 1t was con-
sidered probable by officials that the
German government, after being APP
prised of the facts, would admit the
error Of the naval commander and
agree TO make the usual reparation.
Some officials thought sufficient
amends, after the payment OF dam
ages would be the court martialing
Of the German officer.
Boy-Ed TO Newport.
1t was made clear at the state de-
partment that whatever action would
be taken as a result Of the sinking
of the Frye would be entirely disas-
sociated from questions arising out of
the entry into an American port OF
the Prinz Eitel desiring time for re-
pairs. The vessel could, therefore, de-
part leaving the question OF the Amer
lean ship to be settled through diplo-
matte channels
Captain Boy Ed, naval attache Of
the German EN- bassy 1t was under
stood here, has gone to Newport News
from New York to confer with the
captain Of the PrlnZ Eitel and obtain
a sworn statement of the facts for
the German government
Captain Kiehne OF the Frye has
been asked to keep the members OF
his crew together so that all the testi-
mony necessary for diplomatic cor
respondence may be gathered. Exam
ination OF precedents I'm International
law revealed to state department Of
flcials that the general rules OF mari
time practice have prohibited the de-
struction Of a neutral vessel under the
circumstances in which the Frye was
found in the south Atlantic by the
PrnZ Eitel.
Many arguments have been urged
against the destruction of neutral ves-
sells and when in doubt American
naval commanders have been eau
toned always to dismiss the vessel.
Before destruction in any case the
crew. passengers and papers must be
taken from the neutral vessel on board
the beligerent ship.
These are then Immediately sub
ject" says one OF the authorized pub
lications OF the United States naval
war college. "to all the dangers OF war
to which war vessel Of a belligerent
is subject. Such a position may be
an undue hardship for those who
have not been engaged in the war and
one TO which they should not be ex-
posed"
American Lives Risked.
II was said in official quarters that
the American government took note
OF the fact that American citizens by
their enforced presence on board a
German cruiser for more than
month had been subjected to unneces-
sary risks which might have involved
serious dangers to them and that this
probably would be one of the points
In the correspondence between the
United States and Germany over tho
incident
That the Frye was carrying wheat
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