Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-11
BOTH DISPATCHES BRIEF
Germany Is Asked How Admir-,
atty Proposes to Carry Out
Recent Observation-Disclosures
States Won't Permit Unwar.
ranteG Attack on L. S. Flag.

Washington. Fcb t0--The ,'nrsd
| states government to-day sent a note
TO Great Britain making friendly oh
servations on the use by British ships
/ of H"ttr.u flags and despatched a com
muucation to Germany inquiring what
steps would be taken by German nsval
commanders to verify the identity OF
ships flying neutral flags in the recent
| j. proclaimed zones of war around
| E1sland and Ireland.
While the Lusitania incident IL not
mentioned. tho representations to Great
Britain are based on the statement of
the British foreign Office iustifving
the use OF neutral flags by her mer-
chantmen to escape capture. The Am
erican government points out how fire.
qucut and continued use of this strata
gem might cast doubt on the character
| Of vessels really entitled to fly the
American flag and produce dangers to
which neutral ships should not he
subjected on the high seas and in un-
blockaded waters.
THE NOTE TO GERMANY
In the note to Germany. it is under
stood that the United States asked how
the German admiralty proposed u carry
| out in practice its recent proclaina tion
| The Introduction of the submarine into
/ warfare prrduce-i a situation not covered
/ by a-i c".sting declaration Of interna-
| tinnsl law, hut the United States has
made it clear. it is understood. that an
attack on a vessel hvng the Ameri-
nitelv that such use was fictitious coud
ln yeI s,1r Nv
lean government aud bring ubout seri-
ous complications.
The United States ha, not fully ex-
! pressed itself on tho German proclama-
ton, however. contininc itself for the
I present to an inquiry for more inforra-
.i.u. There is no evidence as vet, for
example. that any American ship will
b., threatened. for German naval com
manders may have complete list and
description IF such vessels, making It
possible tn give assurances that no
American ship will bc mocsted. The
communication merely seeks to learn
more definitely with what hazards an
| American ship might he confronted. and
what steps will he taken ny the German
navy To give unrestricted massage TO
American vessels travelling through the
zonts
BOTH NOTES FRIENDLY
Both notes. To be- presented by thu
| American ambassadors at London and
| Berlin, are brief and couched in
friendly spirit. Neither makes u pro
test, but each points out how the recent
| developments may seriously enbarress
the voyages of neutral ships on the high
seas which already have been considered
/ free - .hem in times ~ war as -ci, as
| peace.
| Probably the text Of hot, -rc,.s or
paraphrase of them Will D., made public
as soon as the Telegram T"acfr ;cAir re-
| s7ective destinations
| While officials here ia, 10 intimauol
as 10 what the att'u'. 4 the British
and Grar-nan goVornin, MS viii be It Is
| generally expected 'at expressions vii.
result which "' 'aa =surc the United
| states rs 10 t'r .f7tY of its vessels
Mons Of thc ~ aricials anticipate the
development arY critical situation
D11'''' iT LEGAL POINT
| So Ia q .. understood the United
stSates has not indicated to any OF the
belligercnts on what its course would be
if any American citizen were los. In on
|
enemy merchant vessels While the ex-
listing rules ~ International law, how
| ever. provide that All passengers and
| crew on unar rned hclSercut merchant
| vessels must be taken OF before the ship
| can be sunk. this has been held to apply
| TO war vessels which are ablc to carry
| passengers. The fact that "A submarine
may endanger itself by approaching
I h,l n = N 10
tion which may necessitate new rules
when tho subject is taken up by future
international conferences
Representative Browning II New Jer-
sey read to the House to-day letter
| from Charles S. Braddock, Jr., of New
Jersey, who was senior watch officer of
the L, s. s Resolute during tho Spanish
War, telling how that vessel hoiated the
! British ensign and sailed under il all daY
| In the Caribbean waters to deceive Span
! ,pl, I.-