Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-10
Manned by Merchant Grew.
No Opposition Expected.


the Deutschland would be opposed and
that as the submarine is a new ship
in merchant trade the United States
must be wholly satisfied that she is
what she processes to be and not "a
warship.
If objections are raised that the
Deutschland is a secret type. and nothing
but a superficial examination can be al
lowed, the State Department is expected
to insist on a thorough examination. as
has been done in the case of steamships
The fact that boarding officers found
the German merchant submarine Deutscn,
land wholly unarmed goes far TOWARD
simplifying any question as to her status
as a merchant ship in American waters.
Officials realize however. that the Brit.
ish and French embassies, while interested
little in what the Deutschland has brought
Der and nickel she proposes to carry back
to Germany and expect that nothing will
be left undone by Germany's enemies to
prevent or hinder her clearance.
Factors to Be Established.
Although the fact that the submersibls
is unarmed is of first Importance. such
factors as the composition OF her crew
and her actual ownership will have to be
established to determine whether the
submarine could be classed as a naval
auxiliary.
Naval officers, while attracted by the
great size of the submarine and heI
long voyage. consider the fact that she
successfully ran the allied blockade
attracts them most. Some of then
of running a blockade had been per
fected, one of the most potent meas
ures Of warfare had become thing
of the past
Acting Secretary Polk said that, fol
the time being, at least, details Of in.
spection of the submarine were withfr
the Jurisdiction of the Treasury De-
partment, aided possibly by the Navy
Department.
armed, Mr. Polk added, indicated that
the State Departments position would
be much simplified.
Not a single gun Of any description
other than small arms was found on
the Deutschland, according TO the re-
port Collector of the Port Ryan tele-
phoned to the Treasury Department
The inspection was made by the sur
yeyor of the port, Guy Steele, and
Deputy Inspector Wynde.
The customs officials are inclined tc
accept the status of the Deutschland
as that of a merchantmen. Her ships
papers will determine that to the salts
faction of that branch Of the service. in
combination with the inspection of the
cargo given. 1t Is understood in Wash
ington that the inspection was thor
ough.
To Make Separate Investigation.
The State Department, with the aid
of the Navy Department will make ar
independent investigation. There are
many problems that may be inject ed
into the situation that are not a mat
ter of concern to the customs officials
but which may have a diplomatic sig.
nifcance.
AS the craft is a new type for In.
clusion in the status Of merchantmen
some question may arise on that score
The customs service is not apt to ques.
ton the merchantmen status Of tn,
Deutschland on the score of differ.
ence in construction. as such statu.
does not depend upon type of construc.
ton. but nature of cargo and arma.
ment.
will desire to know the status of thu
officers of the big U-boat in regard Il
their utilization with the regular navy
of Germany. Undoubtedly, they are al
least attached to the naval reserve OF
Germany--as are all officers Of the Ger
man merchant marine. II they ar,
officers of the regular arny-shoulC
they be on leave-it is doubtful IL any
di diplomatic objection to their service!
in offering the Deutschland woult
hold good.
As a warship. the Deutschland woult
be required to leave an American por,
within twenty-four hours of her ar.
rival. unless additional time was re.
cuired to make her seaworthy.
AS purely a commercial ship. she
would be as free to enter and leavs
American ports az any other. and thii
government would have no concern ir
the novel manner of her coming mol
the fact that the ingenuity and daring
of the German admiralty had beer
able to get a ship through the allied
blockade. II she should venture Il
return TO Germany the submarine
would enjoy protection of the United
States within the three limit
II she should fall prey to hostil,
warships on the high seas. the concern
of this government, in it's stand for tn,
safety of peaceful commercial ships
would be governed entirely by the con
duct and character of the submarine 1t
self. precisely as would be the case Il
she sailed wholly above the water. in
stead Of at times below the surface.
Tho State Department has we'll es
tablished its position on the question o.
offensive and defensive armament OF
merchant ships.
Ownership Is Of Interest.
One point of much interest to ON.
cials here 10 the ownership OF the