Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-08
Liner on Trip From America
Strikes Mine and Sinks
in the Adriatic.
GIVE OUT BERLIN NOTE
State Department Makes
Germany's Letter Ac-
ceptance Public.

Paris, Jan. s, Via London, 10:0S
p. m.)-TwO hundred MOnteneg-
rims from America lost their lives
by the sinking of an Italian steam
ship which struck a mine in the
Adriatic.
Paris. Jan. THE MOntene.
grin consulate tonight issued q
statement to the effect that an
Italian steamer from Brindisi
with 425 Montenegrin recruits
from the United States and sew.
eral hundred tons Of fOodstuffs
ran onto a mine yesterday near
San Juan de Medua and was
sunk. Two hundred of the pas.
sengers persisted.
German Note to Z. s.
Washington, Jan. 8.-Germany's note
accepting the American contentious
that the mere placing of non-combat-
ants in life boats whe. prize is to be
destroyed is not under all conditions
to be considered assuring them place
Of safety, was made public today by
the, state department.
The note is the latest communica-
ton over the sinking of the American
sailing ship William P. Frye and be-
sides making the important conces-
sion regarding the question of small
boats. takes up the question of an in
demnity for the sunken ship and for
the disputed provisions of
the Prussian-American treaty.
Important Part Treated.
The most important part Of the text
relating to the sinking of ships carry
ing contraband and the safety of nom
combatants, follows:
Until the decision Of the permanent
court of arbitration, the German naval
forces will sink only such American
vessels as are loaded with absolute
when the pre-conditions
provided by the declaration of London
are present. In this the German gov
eminent shares the views Of the Amer
lean government that all possible care
be taken for the security Of the crew
and passengers of a vessel to be sunk.
the persons found on
board a vessel may net be ordered in
to lifeboats except when the general
conditions, that is to say, the weather,
the conditions Of the sea and the
neighborhood of the coasts afford abb
solute certainty that the boats will
reach the nearest port
No Loss of Life, Point.
For the rest the German govern
ment begs to point out that in cases
where the German naval forces have
sunk neutral vessels for carrying con-
traband, no loss of life has yet oc-
CURED"
Germany declined, however, to have
the commissioners who will settle the
Frye damages meet in Washington, be-
cause it is pointed out that the Ger
man expert, DR.. Greve Of Bremen, di-
rector of the North German LLOYD,
would be exposed to danger of capture
during a voyage to America, "in con-
sequence of the conduct of maritime
war by England contrary to interna-
tional law"
Germany also declines to assent at
this time to the nomination of an UNI
pire in the absence of determination
OF whether the experts would settle
damages or principles. Germany re-
fuses to have an umpire consider the
question Of principles. In case the
United States insists hat the experts
meet in Washington and that an UNI
pire be named at once, Germany sug-
gests that the damages be arranged by
negotiations.
Propose Special Court.
For the arbitration of the Prusslan-
American ;-eaty. Germany in the note
proposes a special court of FIVE from
the permanent court at The Hague, Of
which each country shall choose two
and the four shall choose the fifth to
meet at The Hague June Is. The spe-
cial court would decide whether under
the Prussian-American treaty "the bel
ligerent contracting party Is prevented
from sinking merchant vessels Of the
neutral contracting party for carrying
contraband wheE such sinkingsis per-
according 20 the general
principles Of international law"
The United States has contended
that the German cruiser Pring Eitel
Frederick had no right under the
treaty to sink the Frye. The German
note proposes that both parties pre-
sent copies of their argument to the
court on March l and deposit their
counter casee and evidence on May l.