New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-23

nautical instruments, pig lead, aero
planes, coal and coke arc made abso-
lutte contraband. Several other com
modities are added 10 the list of condi-
tional contraband, including wool, rub
Der, iron and several other ores. The
regulation prescribes that these art-
cles shall be assumed conditional con-
traband destined for the enemy If con-
signed "to order or TO person whose
name does not appear in the ship
papers or a person in the enemys ter,
ritory." In such a case II is PROVIDED
that a ship shall be liable TO capture
even If bound for neutral port.
The German navy order, according 20
the dispatch. directs also that conoi,
tional contraband may be conhscateo
without regard to the consignee wnen
A ship is destined for a neutral coun'
try from which the nations at war WIN
Germany obtain articles OF the kind IN
question.
Neutrals Face Difficulty.
Difficulty in maintaining the right OF
neutral nations to ship conditional con-
traband TO other neutral powers is
foreseen by Washington ofscials as
result Of the adoption as a German
prize rule of the same provision as
that in the British Orders in Council
regarding goods consigned ITO order,
over which there has been so much DIS
cussion.
The United States government has
consistently held that this usual com
mercial process is perfectly legitimate
and that before goods consigned TO
order" can be seized the belligerent
government attempting 10 make the
seizure must assume the burden OF
proof that the goods are unneutrai OF
are intended for the enemy's govern
ment.
Officials are even more concerned
over the reported new German rule
that a ship with conditional contraband
bound for a neutral port shall be liable
to CAPTURE and that the conditional
contraband' may be confiscated without
regard TO the consignee when the snip
is destined for a neutral country from
which the nations at war with Ger,
msay obtain conditional contraband
articles.
Note Will BE fastened.
Since submarines alone of the Ger
man naval craft are able now TO nav,
igate the open seas; il is supposed that
enforcement of this rule would be &C
companied by assertion of right to
destroy ships and cargo on the plea OF
inability to take them into port.
A reflection Of the views OF the Amer
lean government on this subject prob
ably will appear in the note to be ad'
dressed TO Germany in regard TO the
case Of the American ship William +.
FRYE, which was sunk in the South At
lantic by the German cruiser Prlnz
Eitcl Friedrich.
The State Department has for some
time had under consideration the last
German proposition to send this case
before a prize court and to pay for the
ship and cargo if the facts developed
we're those stated in the United States
note Of complaint.
Because condition OF the accept
auce of this offer is recognition Of the
continued existence in full effect OF the
old treaty Of trade and commerce be-
tween the United States and Prussia Of
1923. the answer has been delayed IN
order TO make sure that such an ad-
mission in regard to the treaty would
not seriously injure the claims of the
United States to reparation on other
accounts. Extension of the German
prize rules probably will result in has
tening the dispatch of the reply.