Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-22
WILL TAKE DAClA
If ITLEAvES PORT
Despite British Warning Vessel
VIII Sail at Galveston TO
Test Issue.

Washington. T. O.. Jan. 22--Public
and formal notice was given last night
by the British embassy OF the inten-
ton or the British government 10
seize the former German steamship
Dacia should 10 undertake its contem-
plated voyage % European waters
The state department had communi-
Gated this information informally %
the owners OF the Dacia as a result OF
a MESSAGE from Ambassador Page. and
vas notified in reply that the vessel
was loading at Galveston and would
put 70 sea nOtwithstsndiag- tAs-Brit- /
ish governments position. II was be
lieved the owners have resolved 10
test the issue IN prize court.
The announcement b. Sir Cecil l
Sprine-Eice is most emphatic in de-
claring that his majesty's government /!
does not rcEard the transfer OF the -,
Dacia as valid under accepted princi- 4
pies OF international law.
This declaration IS regarded - sig I
nifyiuE the intention Of the British I
government not 10 yield one iota OF
IT'S position in principle with regard
20 the transfer OF not only the Dacia.
but possibly many other German ships
nov tied UP in docks in this and other
neutral countries.
Notice IS given that the Dacia will
be promptly prosecuted in the British
rrfze courts should Il fall into British
ha.ndE
Makes Distinction on Cargo.
Careful distinction Is made in the
ambassadors statement between the
Dacfa and It's cargo. which consists OF
cotton. recently taken on board at
Galveston
The ambassador states that the Brit
.sh government VIII guarantee that :
he shippers OF tho cotton in the Dacia
viii suner no loss on accoun: or the
question 81 the Dacia's status and that
be cotton viii either De paid for by
Great Britain AZ the price - be paid .
or Il bv the German cons.gnees. or 2
ne government VIII forward u % Rot 9
erdaru. as the owners OF the cotton {
nay prefer. s
Here is the British ambassadors {
.uuouuc emcut-
'In connection with the transfer OF d
he uacia from the German 10 the p
american far the British govern
nent. while anxious % avoid causine- b
oss % the shippers 81 the cargo. have
1uud it Impossible 20 agree that the a
rausfer. IN the circumstance in C
rhIch u has been effected. is valid IN 81
ccoriancs with the accepted pTtnci-
les OF futeruati1nal law. G
III. therefore. the uacia should pro =
eed 10 sea and should be captured. y
he British government viii hnd them q
elves obliged 10 bring the ship apart I
-ou the cargo before the prize court y
1T f. stated that the cargo of the y
acfa e. 20 consist solely OF cotton y
rued bv American citizens. II this u
90. and II the vessel should be cap ~
red. the British government VIII a
1arantee either 20 purchase the car -
, AZ the price which would have been
allied by the shippers II ths cargo g
sa reached It's foreign destination. ~
!. IL preferred. they viii undertake ..
, forward the cotton 10 Rotterdam
fthout further expense 20 the snip &C
srs~
Cargo az Least Safe.
tn. offer OF the British government ~
,cardfne the Dacia-s cargo following ms
e issuance OF a policy here BY the 90
,vernuent war risk insurance bu- 10
an irsurinx the cargo at : per cent CT
Iieve= the shippers from all their
,xiety regarding the cotton on the
,cia- The government bureau refus- pc
10 insure the vessel itself. thus re- ST
aiming frm .sn It's attitude regarding liz
q status Of the vessel sc