New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-20
BRITAIN DENIES
GERMAN CHARGE
Says Warship Rammed
and Sank Captain We'd
digen's Craft.
NOTE DELAY LIKELY
Reply To Be Made Only After
Extended Conferences with
Government Services.

OONOl HlllNul ONl NlNNos
Berlin via London). June ia
statement given out by the German
Admiralty to the effect that the Ger
man submarine U-29 had been rammed
and sunk by a British tank steamer
flying the Swedish flag. after the vessel
had been ordered to stop, is expected
to have an important bearing on the
German-American negotiations. Ger
man naval officers and the public at
large ask how it is possible for Ger
man submarines to treat merchantmen
in the way requested by the United
States or to take steps to ascertain the
nationality of ships displaying neutral
flags in the war zone so long as Brit
ish captains adhere to the rules laid
down by their Admiralty.
The announcement published By the
German Admiralty regarding the fate
of the U-29. which was made in a most
positive form, and as though the Ger
man Admiralty had conclusive evil
dence upon which to base its state
ment, will. in the opinion of well in
formed persons here. make a deeper
impression on the public mind than
would almost any other possible event.
Captain Weddigen. the commander
of the U-29, was a popular hero in Ger
many, ranking in popular esteem with
the army leader. Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg. The loss Of the German
undersea boat under the circumstances.
prominent Germans say. undoubtedly
will stifen the nation in the belief
that it is impossible to introduce any
changes in submarine methods, so long
as Great Britain does not at least with
draw its instructions regarding neutral
flags and attacks upon submarines.
Dangerous to Investigate.
Under the headline Of "Weddigen and
the American Note" the "Kreuz Zei-
tung" in a leading article to-day re-
sumes consideration of submarine war
fare. The newspaper declares that the
fate OF the U-29. as announced by the
German Admiralty, demonstrated the
danger of first investigating and then
sinking ships, and suggests that the
German successes would have been
much greater if this consideration had
been discarded.
"The incident further shows plain
w." the newspaper continues, what
meaning Americas demand has that
submarines should not torpedo even
enemy merchantmen without first halt
ing and searching them. 1t would be
q complete surrender of the advantages
due to the technical superiority Of
German submarines. and that is not
possible.
ave have all due respect for Amer
ica's business interests, but we must
reserve the right 10 try to keep Ameri-
can ammunition from our enemies
without scruple, and with all the
means at our disposal. and TO cause
every conceivable damage TO Great
Britain in the war of destruction which
il forced upon US.
Therefore. the American demand to
render ineffective our submarine war
against every ship carrying American
passengers is for US wholly impossi-
ble."
Germany's Moral Duty.
Count Reventlow. the naval critic, in
a leading article says:
at is a moral duty to extract every
possible advantage from the submarine
weapon. Germany cannot let this
weapon be shut up as in a cage whose
bars are formed by threatening notes
from the United States and by inter
national regulations.
"Now is the time for Germany 70 in
form the world clearly and sharply
that il will not let limits and restric-
tions be drawn by other powers 70 gov
ern the manner of using its subma-
rines."
In view of the fact that DR.. Anton
Never Gerhard. whose long report 70
Herr Won Jagow on the status Of pub
lie opinion in the United States is now
under consideration, has not yet pre-
sented his separate report on the same
subject TO DR.. Won Holiweg.
the Imperial Chancellor. il is thought
that the German reply will in all prob
ability not be ready for delivery in
less than ten DAYS or two weeks. EI-
tended conferences between represent
atives of the various departments con-
cerned will be required to unity the
views Of the Foreign Office. the Minis
try Of Marine and the Naval General
staff for presentation 20 the United
States.
These conferences and deliberations
have not yet begun. and there is moth
ing 10 show what direction the current
Of German policy ultimately will take.
though the accusations regarding tho
sinking of the U-29 will of necessity
munication 70 be made.