The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-06
NO BAN ON AIRSH|pS.
SAYS STATE DEPARTMENT IN RE
PLY TO GERMAN PROTEST..
Bryan States I'm Note That Delivery Of
Hydro-Aeroplancs Built by Manu-
facturcrs I'm this Country VIII not
lie Stopped.

manufacturers for England and Rus
sia, Secretary Bryan has informed
the German an: AMBASSADOR that the state
department does not concur in the
contention thta such craft are YES
sells OF war whose delivery TO bel
ligerent states nv neutrals should be
stopped"
The correspondence on the subject
was made public today by Mr.. Bryan.
On anuary 10 Count Won Bernstorff
wrote:
Mr.. Secretary OF State:
1T has come to my knowledge that
n number of hydroaeroplanes have
been ordered In the United States for
belligerent states from the Curtiss
plant at Hammondsport. N. ". and
that part OF them have already been
delivered.
AN airship named America was
delivered In October of last year TO
England. Five more hydroaeroplane
OF the same type have been delivered
since.
England has also ordered 21 ny
droaeroplanes OF the 1. N. model GO
horsepower) from Curtiss.
"Cortiss Is also building for Eng
land IL hydroaeroplanes OF the X
model OF 160 horsepower.
Russia has also recently ordered a
number q. hydroaeroplanes OF the X
model from Curtiss. How many Is not
yet known.
The motors for the aeroplanes are
built partly by Curtiss himself ut
Hammondsport. partly by the Hers
chel-spillman motor factory at North
Tonawanda. ". Y.
The wings are made at the Cur
tiss plant. the minor parts by the
Autocrat Manufacturing company.
The Tonawanda Boat company fur
nishes the boat part.
There Is no doubt that hvdro-
aeroplanes must be regarded rs war
vessels whose delivery to belligersnt
states by neutrals should be stopped
under article OF the 18th conven-
ton OF second Hague conference Of
October Is. 1907. Hyroaeroplanes
are not mentioned by name in the
convention simply because there was
mono In 1907. at the time of the con-
ference.
"On the supposition that hydroaero-
planes are delivered TO belligerents
against the wishes of the government
OF the United States. have the honor
to bring the foregoing to your excel
icncy's kind knowledge.
Accept. Mr.. Secretary of State, re-
newed assurances OF my most distln-
gulshod high consideration.
~. Bernstorff."
Secretary Bryan's reply dated Jan
uary 20 follows:
"Excellency: I have the honor TO
acknowledge the receipt OF your en-
cellency's note OF tho 10th inst, and
In reply have to inform you that the
statements contained I'm your excel
iency's note have received my careful
consideration in view OF the earnest
purpose OF this government to perform
every duty which Is imposed upon II
az a neutral by treaty stipulation and
international law.
The essential statement An your
note. which implies an obligation on
the part OF this government to inter-
fero I'm the sale and delivery OF hydro
aeroplanes To bolligerent powers Is:
There Is no doubt that hydro
aeroplanes must he regarded as war
vessels whose delivery to belligerent
states by neutrals should be stopped
under article S OF the 18th conven-
tion OF the second Hague conference
OF October rs. 1901
AS TO this assertion OF the charac-
ter OF hydroaeroplanCs. / submit the
following comments: The fact that a
hydroaeroplano is fitted with appa-
ratus To rise from and alight upon tho
sea does not In my opinion give IL the
character OF vessel any more than
the wheels attached To an acroplanc
lifting IL To rise from and aiight upon
land give the latter the character Of
a land vehicle.
Both the hydroaeroplane and the
aeroplane are essentially aircraft: as
an aid In military operations they can
only be used I'm the air; the fact that
one starts its flight from the surface
OF tho sea and the other from the
land is a mere incident which in no
way effects their aerial character.
I'm view OF these facts | must dis
sent from your cxccllency's assertion