New Britain herald., 1915-07-01

Il ~ IN DAT III the military III
I ns s forces of = belligerent only
when either manned by commission
y ga or naval officers and when the YES
emit. ,'.as . ~-1e =
Collectors Of American ports have
orders to prevent the departure Of
foreign military officers on board
snlps transporting horses Or mules
from the United States, and similar
ly clearance has been refused to all
Il British vessels which were armed. Of
hcials were inclined to believe that
the charterine Of the vessel by the
British government would not affect
vitally the merits of the case, be-
cause the character Of the ship was
that Of peaceful merchantmen when
10 left the shores Of the United States,
and the crew was, therefore, entitl-.
ed to be removed to q place OF safety
before the ship was destroyed.
First Since Lalsitania Incident
The case of the Armenian consti-
tutes the hrst since the sinking OF
the Lusitania In which American lives
have been lost The expectation
here has been that Germany's reply
to the last American note would maks
the safety of Americans on the high
seas and especially upon passenger
vessels Comparatively little atten-
ton has been given to the case of
Americans on board be1ligerent ships
which primarily carried freight and
cOntraband. I'M
The new aspects developed by the
sinking of the Armenian were the
subject Of widespread comment. since
ut was pointed out in various quar-
tiers that the Incident was most likely
to draw some definite expression on
the attitude which the Unied Staes
will take concerning the association
of American citizens with the carriage
of contraband on ships chiefly DE
voted to such trade.s
Wilson Orders Full Probe.
Cornish, NJ H., July President
Wilson has instructed the state de-
partment to make full investigation
OF the sinking Of the Leyland Line
steamship Armenian by a German
submarine and to keep him completely
informed Of all developments. He
remained in his study during the
forenoon in order to be in constant
touch with Washington.
The first news received here Of the
destruction Of the Armenian, WIFI |
the loss Of American lives. created alne
Impression that she was not mer-
chant vessel in the sense referred TO |
in the American notes to Germany
concerning submarine warfare, and
this view appeared to be borne out by
the statement OF the British admir-
atty today that the Armenian was en-
gagged III admiralty business. "A spe-
cial delivery letter received from the
state department this morning brought
The President all the facts in the
case available at Washington late
Yesterday. President Wilson declined
"a comment on the incident and will
await further information before de-
Gliding on the course OF the American
government. He was from the start
anxious to learn whether the Armen-
ian was under charter to the British
government and what was the status
Of the American muleteers who were
lost. It was made knownsthat he
expected Secretary Lansing to inform
him al early as possible Of the inter-
national law features involved in or
der that he might form q correct judy
ment Of the seriousness Of the situa-
ton.
Investigation Through Page.
1t was declared authoritatively that
FOR the present President Wilson had /
no thought Of hurrying back to Wash
ington ahead Of his schedule because
of the latest submarine problem The |
INVESTIGATION, which will be conducted
through Ambassador Page at London |