New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-29
DEADLOCK MAY
BE THE RESULT
Officials Expect Dispute
Over Prize Court
Jurisdiction.
MISLED BY THE PRESS
Washington Thinks Berlin Could
Stop Misrepresentation of
American Attitude.
From The Tribune Buresu.l

Washington, July 2S.-All the
facts in the case of the sinking of
the American steamship Leelanaw
by German submarine are now at
hand, except as to whether the u
boat commander demanded that the
steamers cargo be jettisoned. There
is nothing to indicate that such was
the case.
A report from E. Haldeman Dem
nison, American Consul to Dundee,
brought to light the fact that the
captain of the Leelanaw tried to es-
cape, but submitted to visit and
search after warning shots were
fired. The right to escape, officials
declare, is conceded by international
law, only repeated attempts to
evade capture or forcible resistance
being regarded as effecting the case.
ConsuPs Report on Leelanaw.
Consul Dennison's report, dated to-
day, was as follows:
"Leelanaw's crew here. All safe.
Sail Saturday on st. Paul.
master under oath states sighted
German submarine July %, sixty miles
north of 0rkneys. Endeayored 20
escape. Fired on at distance of two
miles, shot failing shcrt. Hove to and
stopped. Submarine signaled for
ships papers, which were sent. After
examining them. submarine ,ignGled
abandon ship. Ample time given crew
to leave ship.
Five shots then fred at Leelanaw
without effect, followed by torpedo.
Crew then taken on submarine with
lifeboats ntow, after which two more
shots were fired, last one settin fire 10
ship. Submarine headed toward Ork-
ncys. Leelanaw was seen 10 sink one
hour and twenty minutes later.
"A $3.50 p. m. snotker steamer being
seen approaching, crew ordered "
boats, in which the. proceeded re
mainder distance 10 K.rkwall, arriving
$3.50 following morning.
"Leolanaw was laden with flax and
tow only. Before leaving submarine
master demanded sA'n's papers, re.
quest refused, his register, customs
manifest and bills of lading being re.
ta:red. Master hac nc complaint treat
ment on submarine"
Ships Papers Retained.
Retention by the German submarine
commander of the ships papers brings
up TO a point that has never beer
definitely settled, but in the present
war there have been many such cases,
as when the William p. Frye was sunk
by the Prinz Eitel Friedrich This
point probably will not be disputed
American naval commanders in the
past hav. been instructed 10 keep the
papers of any prizes destroyed for later
consideration by prize courts.
The State Department will at once
demand a disavowal of the Leelanaw
sinking and present a bill for dam
ages 10 the German government, as in
the case Of the william p. Frye. Ger
many already has offered reparation
for the Frye, the amount to be de-
termined by her prize courts. The
United States contends that the prize
court has no jurisdiction, as the ves-
sci was sunk in violation of astreaty
Negotiations in the Frye case are
deadlocked, and il is probable that a
similar result will follow in the Lee.
lanaw case. The whole question, IL is
believed, will eventually have to be
settled by arbitration. In the FRYE
case no offer of indemnity was mad
until the formal demand by the United
States. II is thought that the same
thing will happen in the Leelanaw
case.
German Attitude Surprising.
Reports from Berlin of comment on
the last American note have caused
great surprise in official quarters here.
The statement frequently repeated in
the German press that "the subma-
rine campaign must continue despite
the protests of the United States" is
indicative, officials say, of determine
tion not 70 understand the attitude of
this government from which, unless
checked by the German authorities,
much harm may result.
Recent operations OF submarines are
regarded a having demonstrated that
these craft are capable Of abiding by
the rules Of naval warfare without sac
rificing their effectiveness, and stu
dents OF the situation do not under
stand how serious thinkers IN Germany
can pretend that a compliance with the
demands OF the United States would
mean an abandonment Of the subma-
rine campaign.
In the note 70 Germany il was spe-
cifcally pointed out that "the events
of the last two months have clearly in
dicated that il is possible and prac-
ticable 70 conduct such submarine
operations as have characterized the
activity Of the imperial German navy
within the so-called war zone in sub
stantial accord with the accepted pras-
tees Of regulated warfare"
This, u il felt. should have been
sufficient 20 allay the fears Of those who
imagined the United States was trying
10 deprive Germany Of powerful
weapon against her enemies, but de-
nunciation Of the American note has
been more bitter than ever.
German People Misled.
There is a strong feeling among GER
tain officials here that nothing is being
done by the German govXnment, which
must be aware Of the reNNfacts, to cor