The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-28
SEIZE u. S. MAIL
British Government COnfiscates
Mail From Two Steamers.
Dutch and Norwegian Liners
Held Up on Neutral Trips.

Berlin Dec 2s.-Seizure by the
British government of American mail
from two steamships on their way to
Holland is reported in a Rotterdam
dispatch given, out today by the Over
seas News agency ---s-s-- -
According to the new agency dis
patch the vessels from which mail was
taken are the Dutchsteamship Nieuw
amsterdam, from New York Decem-
wegian steamship Christian Nicholson
from. New York December 8, for Rot
terdam.
Also Took Holland Mail.
Advices from Amsterdam, the
news agency also states, are that
British authorities took from the
steamer Tubantia, a Dutch vessel ply
ing between Amsterdam and South
American ports, all the South Ameri-
can mail for Holland she had on
board.
Steamer "U. So Also Held Up.
New York. Dec. 2S.-The steamer
United States, which arrived today
on December Is she was stopped east
OF the Shetland islands by a British
cruiser and taken to GreenOck for eX-
animation there. The British removed
1861 small parcels and $50 parcels
post packages. The steamer was re-
leased on the 18th.
Z. S. Files Protest.
The foregoing does not make it clear
whether the mail seized included any
first class matter or as is Elore prob
able consisted of parcels post ship
ments. On December 20 the United
States addressed a protest to Great
Britain on the subject of British inter
ference with Swedish-American mail.
The British government has taken the
stand that parcels post matter must
be regarded as freight, exempt from
the protection given first class matte
un,ier the international postal conven-
tiCn.s Washington is understood to
have ccncurred IN this view.
seeking Mail to Germany.
Washington, Dec. 28.-The allies it
is explained here intend to seize and
examine all mail passing between the
United States and the European neu-
trails which there is reason to believe
is intended for Germany. Hitherto,
the seizures of that sort have been
confined to parcel post but now 1t is
said the allies are going to extend the
search to first class postal matter.
In justification of the action, it is
said the allies will first plead military
necessity. and, second, that there is
no inviola bility of mail to the Teutonic
powers because Turkey did not sub
scribe to the Hague convention which
covers it. For that reason it is con-
tended the other belIigerents are ex-
cused from respecting it.
Furthermore, the action is based on
an article in The Hague convention
which provides that immunity of seiz-
ure of mail shall not apply ''to corre-
spondence destined for or proceeding
from a blockaded port"
200 U. S. Citizens Aboard
New York, Dec. 2S.-Because they
were held five days at Greenock the
zoo American citizens aboard the L. S.
drew up a vigorous protest against the
action of the British government and
will forward it to Secretary of State
Lansing. They point out that, in be-
ng taken to Greenock the ship was ex-
posed to mine fields Captain Gotsche
Of the U. s. protested when the par
cells were removed but without result.
During the ships detention at Green
1ck an armed guard was maintained
aboard by the British but the paSSen-
gers were in no way molested. Not
sven their passports were inspected.