Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-11
washington. March 1.-THE follow
ing statement was issued at the White

j =. 2 4 Z
washington, March 1.-THE follow
ing statement was issued at the White
!, House:
THE president when asked regard
ing the sinking OF the American ship
William p. Frye by the German cruiser
Prinz Eitel Friedrich said:
"a most searching inquiry will be
made and whatever action Is taken
will be based on the result OF that In
quiry.'"
I The neutrality board has made re-
port which 1t is understood recon-
mends that the Pr1nz Eitel. Friedrich
be permitted 70 mako such repairs as
I'd make her "seaworthy," under super
vision Of American naval authorities.
osrrsany's Prsdieamsnt.
5SesyJ hothtf the action of the captain OF
+ the Eitel has placed his government in
L = dtlsnms hY sinking the American
grain ship WiiliAm p. Frye, was much
Aned1sed inse4iclal quarters today, {
Asauming fha6 the Frye's CARLO was
not oonASneds'f0 British ports, one
Opttibn ID sthat tho German government
must repudiate the action OF the Eiters
8 captain and pay for the Frye, or with
draw its protest to, the state depart
ment against the British assumption to
The right TO seize food cargoes bound
from neutral country like the United
States to the civilian population of
Germany.
II was thought possible Germany
might adopt middle view such as to-
ward consigned goods to be delivered
ITO order"
s<,ono pro&esf Exnected.
Discussion Of the affair in Official
quarters was taken to foreshadow a
strong protest TO Germany against the
sinking Of the American vessel.
The contention OF the German COM
mander that the Frye had contraband
On board has been set UP as plea for
destruction of others vessels. but has
never been recognized as sufficient
grounds by the United States.
The fact that no lives were lost when
the Frye was sunk transferred the case
from the realms of criminal proceed
ings under the federal statute under a
possible charge Of piracy, and makes
It subject Of diplomatic negotiations
with the object Of gaining reparation
for the owners and disclaimer Of un-
friendliness.
To Ask For Damasss.
That the. United States would ask
# ful damages and an explanation from
the German government was regarded
as certain.
Some officials though. Germany
would be compelled to repudiate the
act of the German captain or aban-
don the position taken by Germany in
recent correspondence with the United
States on the subject Of conditional
contraband and foodstuffs.
Precedents in international law re-
veal that circumstances under which
neutral governments have acqueisced
IN the destruction Of their vessels in
\ time Of war have been very few. It
\ Is recognized that q warship must take
its prizes into q port unless there are
controlling reasonA such as unsea-
worthiness, lack Of a prize crew, dan
ger of recapture and the certainty that
contraband il aboard. The commander
OF the belligerent vessel mus: preserve
Z the neutraHs papers and bring them
20 q prize court.
Russo.Jap War Prsesdsnt.
In the Russo-Japanese war the
United States protested to the Russian
government against the sinking OF
the British steamer. Knight Com
mander, with an American cargo.
The crew test.aed they were obliged to
sink the vessel because Of lack Of fuel
4 and the United States considered that
the sinking Of the vessel was not
justified by "bare facts that there was
cOntra band Of war aboard
The fact that wheat IL conditional
contraband. that a ship would be liable
to seizure II proven 1t was destined for
belliGerent Tort. makes officials be-
\ lieve that the case Of the United States
n against Germany Is q strong one.
During the Russo Japanese war
0reat Britain maintained long and
vigorous correspondence with Russia
4 on the right Of the commander Of q
a neutral ship TO sink It or take It into
Z port 5
1esat aritain,s Protest.
Great Britain claimed this would
..cSsate . paralysis Of all neutral trade
: md AaWas s.intolerAble to all neutrals." !"
John Basset Moore In reviewing
= those dieen sions aid ~, -: 81 ~ ~
E10 0seogsespondsnts serve to em-