Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-08
AWAIT PAGES REPORT.
Washington WithhoIds Comment on
Lusitania FIaq Incident.

Washington, Feb. S.--A report from
Ambassador Page at London on the
hosting of the American flag on the
Cunarder Lustan,a, while crossing the
Irish sea, was expected here today and
pending it's arrival there We're no Off
cia: statements as to how the Ameri-
can government regarded the incident.
1t was stated. however, that while no
statement was called for one would
be asked for today if the ambassador
did not send one on his own initia-
tive
Permitted on Naval Ships.
Naval officers recalled that the navy
regulations permit Il warship to fly
ssluther dag than its own. but specifi.-
cally provides it must be hauled down
and the ships own flag hoisted before
shot is fired.
There are many instances In naval
history where that has been done. the
latest being the German sea rover
Emden, which hosted the Japanese
flag Just before n raid at Penang.
1t was recalled in naval circles that
when Captain Glass commanding the
cruiser Charleston, on his way to the
Philippines, with a convey OF troops
stopped and captured Guam, he ordered
the Japanese flag to be flown from
his flagship and on the ships of his his
flotilla. He signalled this message to
the steamer Australia. Picking and
Sydney. merchant ships under charter
to the government and in use as troop
ships. Passing signal station at Guam,
Charleston will hoist Japanese colors:
other colors same or none"
Use Justified by War Manual.
All the authorities of international
law and the manual in use at the naval
war college Justify the use Of other
flags on war ships. The naval war
college manual says:
"The regulation of the United States
navy states that the use Of foreign
flag to deceive the use Of another flag
Is permissible, but before firing it must
be hauled down."
The records of international law.
however contain few instances in
which the use of a foreign flag on n
merchantmen has come into question.
One instance, tho not in time of war.
came up during the term of Secretary
Sherman in the state department, in
which the London board Of trade inter-
vened to stop the display of the Ameri-
can flag. These were Secretary Sher-
mans words:
"a line OF steamers plying between
ENGLAND and the United States under
the British flag has for some years past
used the United States union jack as
it's house flag. Upon inquiry being
made by the ambassador In London the
British board of trade interviewed In
virtue of it's authority in matters OF
shipping and navigation, and am just
Informed that the line in question has
been constrained to adopt another dis
! tinctive house flag"
Brazilian Incident.
In May, 1908, the American minister
| to Brazil brought to the notice of the
| Brazilian government the fact that a
| Brazilian line was using house flag
resembling the American jack. The
| American minister was subsequently
informed that the Brazilian firm own
ing the vessels in question had ordered
another flag substituted for that 1t had
| been using.
Chairman Stone. of the foreign rela-
| tions committee, said that in his opin-
| ion the flying of the American flag by
| the Lucitania was IAN Improper use OF
| the flag" He added that 1t would bt
possible for congress to adopt a reso.
! tuition protesting against the incident
| but he thought 1t a matter to bt
handled entirely by the executive
| branch Of the government.
Roosevelt Rescinccd Prohibition Order
! In 1900 naval regulation was ISSUED
J Mt the instance of Rear Admiral Stock.
| ton, head of board revising the code
| absolutely prohibiting either the use o.
neutral or enemy flags for the use u
| deception, but very soon after the sigh.
| ing OF the order the attention OF Presi-
I dent Roosevelt was drawn to 1t b,
naval officers of high rank. They point
ed out that the practice was of lont
standing and that the purpose wa.
Legitimate with the single condition