Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-18
COMPLAINT OF GERMANY
WILL Be INVESTIGATED
Bcrnstorff Forwards Anidavits AL
lcging England's Misuse Of,
American Flag.
CITES CASE OF BARALoNG
British Patrol Boat Said to Have
Shown Stars and Stripes While
Making Attack on German Steam
err NicOSian.
Especial to The Times dispatch.


WASHINGTON. October 17..Tho
State Department will investigate thor
oughly afldavits which Count Won Bern
storm, the German ambassador, has
forwarded from New York. affirming
that the British patrol boat Baralong.
flying the American flag. fred on the
German sailors
Following it's usual course, however,
tho State Department will first get any
additional information possible both
from Ambassador Gerard at Berlin and
Ambassadors Page At London.
vigorous protest will follow any
PROOF that Great Britain made use of
inc American flag. In all probability
IL Will include Il positive demand that
SUCH practices cease. for the reason
mat the United States put itself plainly
on record on Its understanding OF in
tcrnational law obligations in it's note
10 Great Britain in February last, con-
corning the first Lusitania incident
Al that time the State Department
looked up the law on the subject and
construed 1t to mean that the flag of Il
neutral could be used only by bel
iiSerent vessel occasionally and when
In danger from pursuit.
ATTENTION OF GREY
CALLED TO REPORT
In the note of February 10 the State
department called the attention of Sir
Edward Grey to the press report that
the captain of the Lustania. acting
upon orders or information received
from British authorities. raised the
American flag as his vcsse! approached
the British coast in order to escape
anticipated attacks by German sub
marines"
The State Department used tho fol-
lowing language: The occasional use
OF inc nag of neutral or an enemy
nnoer the stress OF Immediate pursuit
ana 70 deceive an approaching enemy,
whlch appears by the press reports TO
DC represented as the precedent and
Justification used TO support this ac-
tlon, seems to this government n very
diiterent thing from an explicit sane
tion by n bclligcrent government for
It's merchant ships gencraly TO Nv the
nag OF neutral power within certain
portions OF the high seas. which are
presumed to BIO frequcnted with hostile
warships. The formal declaration of
such policy of general misuse OF a
neutrars flag jeopnrd!zes the vessels
or the neutrals visiting those waters
In peculiar degree by raising the
presumption that they are OF bellig-
erent nationality. regardless OF the
mag which they may carry"
In the note the State Department
also asked Ambassador Page at Lon
don to impress upon Sir Edward Grey
the grave concern which this gov
ernment feels in the circumstances in
regard 10 the safety for American yes
seis ana lives in the war zone de-
clared by the German admiralty"
Great Britain replied that she did
not give the Lusitania any instruc-
lions on the subject. and that she had
no Intention of advising her merchant
shipping to use foreign flags Other
wise than for escaping capture or de-
struction."
GERMANY Is WILLING.
BUT ENGLAND DECLINES
In notes OF February 30 the United
states made the suggestion to Ger
many and Great Britain that each Will
require their respective merchant vesSI
sells not TO use neutral flags for the
purpose of disguise or ruse dc gucrre !"
Germany Indicated her willingness n
cooperate. but Great Britain declined
If the aflidaNits in the Baralonr case
are sustained, the State Department
probably will accept them as proof
mat the British government has given
IT'S sanction to the deceptive use of the
American flag.
secretary Lansing announced to-
night that the ailidavits had not ar
rived at the state Department on
cl"ls indicate that the objections of the
United States cover the broad prin
ciple of deceitS whether practIced hv
warships or merchant vessels Thcv
say further that II the practice is con-
tinued by Great Britain. Germany will
have good ground to complain that
she cannot reasonably assume that tho
American flag flies only over Amcrj-
can vessels. Grave complications might
easily follow from such Situation