Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-03
PROTEST BY GERMANY;
GREAT BRITAIN REPLIES
Berlin Asks Concerning Treatment
OF Captured Submarine
Crews.
MAKES THREATS OF REpRIsALs
Sir Edward Grey Declares They Cam
not BE Regarded as Honorable OPP
ponents-Tells OF Number of Off
GERS and Men Saved During War.

LONDON. April "a German pro-
test and threat OF reprsals Oh account
Of the treatment by Great Britain of
the prisoners taken on board German
submarines was made public here to-
day. This protest was transmitted by
United States.
The reply OF Great Britain also was
made public. The German government
in It's protest asked whether Great
Britain intended to accord less favor
submarine crews than to other war
prisoners, and, IL SO, what form this
discrimination would take. Germany
stated that If Great Britain adopted
such Il course British army officer
held prisoner in Germany would re-
ceive correspondinely harsher treat
ment for each member OF a captured
German submarine crew.
Foreign Secretary Grey i'm his rcply
said that the prisoners from German
submarines had been placed in naval
detention barracks ana segregated
from other war prisoners. but were
being treated humanely and permitted
10 take exercise. Furthermore. the
Foreign Secretary said. German prison
ers in England are better fed and
clothed than are British prisoners Of
equal rank in Germany. and the Ger
mans are not subjected TO forced labor.
rs the submarine crews have been
engaged in sinking neutral merchant
ships and unarmed British vessels. Sir
Edward said they could not be regarded
as honorable opponents. but as OF
lenders against the law OF nations and
common humanity"
The Foreign Secretary said 0O0 or-
hcers and men of the German navy
mad been rescued during the war. bur
that none OF the British navy has been
rescued by the Germans. However. he
hiaoe no suggestion for n change
AMERICAN AMBASSADOR
TRANSMITS PROTEST.
Under date of March 20, the Amcri
can ambassador wrote Sir Edward
Grey. the British Foreign Secretary. as
follows:
Ihe American amba ssador presents
ms compliments to His Majcsty's Sccrc
tafE OF state for Foreign Arairs. and
mas the honor under instructions from
'he secretary OF state at WASHINGTON
10 transmit the hereto annexed text of
n telegram dated March IL. which MIR
h'Ean mas received from the German
forriSh once through the embassy at
Ecrtu:
according TO notices appearing in
'"' 'Th'Sh press. the British admiralty
is SAID 10 have made known it's intcu
tion not TO accord to Austrian and Cor
man submarine officers who have ho.
come prisoners the treatment duo to
them as prisoners OF war, and cspccjoI
ly not to conc"dc To the officers the nj :
vantage of their rank
ne icrinan government is OF opin-
ION that these reports arc not correct
as tho crews OF the submarines acted i'm
the execution Of orders given to thcm
anh, in doing this have solely fulGlicI
their military duties.
AT any rate the reports i'm question
have become so numerous in the neutral
press thnt an immediate explanation OF
the true facts appears to be Of most
urgent Importance, if for no other rca :
sons than consideration OF public opin-
ion in G;crInany
Tho Imperial Foreign Office there
fore requests the American embassy to
nave an inquiry Of the British govern
mcnt made hv telegraph through tho
medium OF the American embassy in
London as to whether aud in what way.
'h"E intend 10 treat the officers ard
crews OF German submarine boats who
nave been made prisoners in any re-
spcct worse than other prisoners OF
war
should this prove to he the case. tho
request is added that in the name OF tho
German government the sharpcst pro-
test he lodged with the British govern
m"nt against SUCH proceedings, and
that no doubt he loft that for each
mcmhcr of the crew OF a Submarine
made prisoner, a Rri.ish army officer
held MS prisoner Of war In Germany will
receive corresponding hnrshcr treat
mcrt.
1.-The Imperial Foreign Oflce would
CONTINUED on Second Page.)