The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-03-11
pom Result of Inquiry Will De-
pend Action of State Depart
ment Says President.
STORY OF MISREPRESENTATION
Act of Prinz Eitel Friedrich Is
Considered Most Serious
Affair.

IH' crew uI the American ship VIII
Inm T. Frye. sunk by the German
cruiser Eitcl Friedrich, were released
i'"m rh" Eitcl Friedrich late today
Wu brought ashore. Twenty two ar.
uF'N hur two Uf the German nation.
aIN remained behind and responded
I" ."."# of the fnDnrrluud by enlist.
m.'
WASHINGTON. - G., March H.
I. ""m Wilson announced today
'O urohug inquiry win be-
.n'I" utD the sinking " the Amch
'tn sailing ship william p. FRYE ny
lhn German auxiliary cruiser Prnz
I1l' Friedrich This statement was
.r0"I a the White House:
In" president when asked regard.
lu- Tine sinking " the American sail.
ln- ship William r. Frye 10y the
'NInHu auxiliary cruiser pruz Eltel
lriririrh said
4 most searching inquiry win be
nude and whatever action is taken
VIII be- based upon the result Of that
inquiry"
Discussion Of the affair In official
Gmriers was taken to foreshadow
strong protest to Germany against the
sinking Of the American vessel.
he contention uf the German com.
malder that because the American
ship had cOntrHhand " war Abroad
her, destruction wa, justified. was SCI
/ up aS plea In other cases. bur ney
erthcless has not been recognized by
! the United States.
/ The fact that the Prinz Eltel Fried
/ rich was commanded by German
naval officer under commission from
/ the German government and the fact
that no lives were lost when the Frye
was sunk transferred the case from
tne realm n criminal proceedings. un-
der the federal statutes on possible
/ charge of piracy and makes 1t a sub
Jecl Of diplomatic negotiations with
ilc object u gaining reparation for
the owners and disclaimer OF un
friendliness.
That the United states would ask
Tor damages and an EXP anation from
the German government was regarded
~ certain. Some Offlcl4ls thought
the German government would find
itself compelled to repudlate the ac.
ton NJ the German captain or ahan
/ don the position taken by Germany
IN recent correspondence with the
/ United States on the subject Of condt-
uunal cOntraband and fOOdstuffs Pre-
crdeuts In international law reveal
tlui the circumstances under which
neutral governments have acuuiesced
I'm the destruction of their vessels In
time Uf war are very few
The general rule applied Is that q
bclligcrrur warship must take its
prizes iuto port unless there ARE com.
ppllng reasons. such as unseaworthl
ness lack NJ q prize crew, danger of
r"cnpWrr and the presence on board
NJ cargo NJ contraband. which
would make certain its condemnation
10y q prize court The commander n
the bcllircrcnt vessel must preserve
the neutral ships paper and bring
them tn "a prize court for the entering
of decree
. lu the RussuJapancsc war the
United states protested TO Russia
against the sinking Of the British
steamer Knight Commander with an
/ American urgo The crew testified
that the vessel had been sunk FOR
want of coal tu proceed to yladiyos
tok, aud the United states considered
| that the sinking of the vessel was not
| Justified hy the bare facts that there
w0s runtruhaud of war aboard
I = Case Is Strong.
The fact that wheat is conditional
unu'mhnud, that q ship would be- liza
. Wr to condemnation only II It were
proved that ID, cargo was destined Ia
fhu hn'.srrrnt force. " AN enemy and
tmt uo opportunity was afforded for
the furnishing NJ evidence make off.
, .Gul4 believe that the ease ~ the
United State, against Germany is a
strong unr
a During the RussolApnncsc wal
p Great Britain maintained long and
. vigorous correspondence with Russia
:, ou the right of q captor Of neutral
I shin lo sink II n 1t were difficult or
D impossible To take into port Great
2 Britain declared such measures would
occasion @ complete paralysis Of all
neutral trade and characterized them
y as .nutrur, tn arknnule,lyad nrincl
! t,...,ts', ~. -, -,