The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-07-27
Germany Once More VIC
lates the Prussian-
American Treaty.
CREW OF STEAMER
rs REPORTED SAFE
Four American Ships Have
Now Been Sunk
BY the Germans
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, July 26-United States
officials tonight held that by a Ger
man submarines destruction of the
American ship Leelanaw Germany
once more has disregarded the Prus-
sian-American treaty of 1928, and
also the two American notes recently
sent on this subject. This treaty pro-
vided that Prussia and the United
States would not harm each others
ships even though carrying contra
band.
Germany already has destroyed
three American ships which the
United States holds were immune I'M
der this treaty. They were the Gulf
light, Nebraskan and William P.
Frye. In the latter case Germany
took the position she had not disre-
garded the treaty, but had exercised
the right given by inference from the
language Of the pact.
The fact that the Leelanaw's crew
was saved created feeling of relief,
but among officials there were many
evidences Of apprehension thas f Ger
many continued to promise payment
but destroyed more American ships q
further warning win be REQUIRED.
The steamer left New York May
~, with cargo of cotton for Arch
angel. She was detained at Kirkwall
but was released June 20 with per-
mission to proceed to Archange
where the cotton was discharged anc
q cargo of fax was loaded for Bel
fast.
No details of the torpedoing have
been received beyond a message stat
ing that the crew had been safely
landed at KirHwall, Scotland, from
which place they notified the Ameri
can consul at Dundee.
An official statement of the Ger
man government issued April 1s
1915, set forth that fax is contra
band of war.
The Leelanaw was commanded b,
Captain D. B. Belk. Her crew con
sisted of seven officers and thirty-tw,
men and her owners planned to re
turn the Leelanaw in ballast.
SITUATION AGGRAVATED.
Officials see in the torpedoing O
The Leelanaw further aggravation o
the situation between this countr,
and Germany. Although they hest
tated to construe the act as cominl
Z within the warning of the last note
the view was taken that Germany, i
effect, had disregarded an earlier not
sent in connection with the sinking
of the American sailing ship William
P. Frye by the German cruiser Prime
Eitel Friedrich.
In that communication, the Unite
States vigorously asserted its posi-
ton that even though an America
ship carried contraband of war
was peculiarly protected from de
struction by the stipulations of tn
Prussian-American treaty of 1926
Flax was declared absolute contra
band by Germany on April Is as re
taliation against the British contra
band declaration.
Although presidents of information
al law in recent years, supported par
ticularly by the declaration of Lon
don have recognized the right of
belHgerent to sink a neutral vesse
carrying contraband if the shin wa
certain of condemnation by a priz
court, the action has been limited t
extreme cases where the taking of
prize into port would involve DANCE
to the capturing vessel.
The Leelanaw was owned by tn
Hardy Steamship Company, of Nev
York. She was formerly the Earn
well. She was $50 feet long and 0
1924 gross tons. She left Galvesto
May s and New York, June II with
cargo Of cotton for Archangel. Earl
IN June she was detained by the Brit
ish at Kirkwall because her carg
was consigned by way Of Gothenburs
Sweden, which country forbids the ez
port of cotton.
Having discharged her cargo 3
Archangel, the Leelanaw was return
ing when sunk.