The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-17
SEN SMALL. EXCUSE ron SINK.
ING on FRYE nv GERMAN
WiRSiliP.
Ptooaeic That Action VIII bc Takcu
Amends ave No; Oncrcu by Ger.
man GoVcinTncnt--Cargo OF Whca,
Was No lniicatlon or Contra aoand.

German government voluntarily offers
10 make restitution for the destruc-
ton of the American ship Frye. sunk
by the converted cruiser Prinz Eitel
friedrich In the south Atlantic. and
expresses regret for the occurrence
strong protest will be made By the
h United states with request for rep.
aration.
No announcements concerning the
case probably will be made by on
cials until after an investigation has
been completed. President Wilson
stated today that a searching inquiry
would be conducted.
Officials were unanimous in their
opinion--and II was shared largely 10y
diplomatists. too-that the comman-
der OF the Prinz Eitel had no right
To sink the Frye. IL was considered
probable by the officials that the Ger
man government would admit the
error OF the naval commander and
agree to make the usual reparation.
Some officials though sufficient
amends. after the payment OF dam
ages. would he the courtmartialing Of
the German officer.
tt was made clear at the state de-
pastment that whatever action taken
as a result OF the sinking Of the Frye
would he entirely disassOoiated from
questions arising out OF the entry into
an American port OF the Prinz Eitcl.
The vessel could. therefore. depart
leaving the question OF the destruc-
ton OF the American ship to be set
tied through diplomatic channels.
Capt. Boy-Ed. naval attache OF the
German embassy. II was understood
here. has gonc to Newport News to
confer with the captain OF the Prlnz
Eitel and obtain a sworn statement
OF the facts for the German govern
ment.
Capt. Kiehne of the Frye has been
asked by the treasury department To
keep the members OF the crew to-
sether, 80 that all the testimony nec-
essary for diplomatic correspondence
may be gathered. The captain prob
ably will come to Washington Satur-
day and give a personal statement re-
sarding the sinking OF his ship.
Examination OF precedents in In
tsrnational law revealed to state de-
partment officials that the general
rules OF maritime practice have pro-
hibited the destruction OF a neutral
vessel under the circumstances I'm
which the, Frye was found by the
Prinz Eitel.
Many arguments have been urged
from time TO time against the destruc-
tion OF neutral vessels and when in
doutr American naval commanders
have been cautioned always to dismiss
the vessel
IL was said In official quarters that
tho American government took note
OF the fact that American citizens by
their enforced presence on hoard n
German cruiser for more than a
month had been subjected TO unnec-
essary risks and that this probably
would be one OF the points In the
correspondence which Is certain To
develop between the United Sttaes and
Germany.
That the Frye was carrying wheat
and no other kind OF cargo has been
established In official reports The
German commander claims that as
the wheat was consigned ito order"
and bound for England. Ii therefore
could be presumed TO be contraband.
The fact that the cargo was sold
while In transit TO British firm
would not. In the opinion OF officials
alter the necessity in case OF cap
ture for bringing the cargo into port
for adjudication.
The United States government has
repeatedly maintained that the de-
struction OF neutral vessel In mari
time war is not JUSTIFIED alone by the
presence of contraband aboard. al
though the character of the cargo.
that Is. II confessedly contrahand.
such as arms and ammunition. would
be a controlling factor In deciding
the case.
Moreover the German government
has given assurances that II would
not detain foOdstufrs destined to the
civilian population OF an enemy.
Although there IL no definite set OF
rules governing the destruction OF
neutral vessels carrying cOntraband.
the naval codes Of the principal pow