The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-14

Continued From First Page.)
sary presumption would be that 1t was
an enemy war vessel, and the peril Of
attempting to ascertain II ii was will
not be run Ii Will be fired upon at
sight BellRerents have the right to
destroy enemy surface merchant
ships, and only surface ships are legiti-
mately ships of trade. A submarine, no
matter TO what use il may he declared
TO have been assigned, Is essentially
war vessel Besides, it Is attempt
ing TO break blockade. and even if
would not be entitled to the ordinary
rights Of merchant ships
VIII Not Interfere With Passengers.
The United States government. II
was said. officially today. will take no
step to prevent American citizens from
travelling on the Deutschland. 1t was
declared at the State Department that
no such steps could be taken If the
submarine Ia held to be a merchant
man. The treasury department also
stated that no attempt will be made
70 discourage Americans from taking
passage on tho undersea liner George
! tpler, inspector general of the steam
boat inspection service department Of
carry passengers II she confOrmed &c
the American statutes affecting pas
senger carrying vessels.
II was said at the State Department
| that a convoy would not necessarily
; be detailed to accompany the Deutsch-
land through the three mile limit, but
~ me officials stated that the govern
ment's ships composed Of 0evenu,
cutters and totpedo boat destroyers
probably would guard the submarine
liner TO the limit OF American turis-
diction.
The government Will take every
measure possible to prevent news OF
the departure of the Deutschland be.
ing flashed by wireless to British war
ships off the American coast These
efforts. however, are expected 10 be OF
no avail. it was pointed out tina
newspaper enterprise will discover the
ships movements and their reports
viii be telegraphed to Canada, hence
. the news viii be wirelessed to tht
cruisers and other warships patrollins
OF the American coast.
Taken by Surprise.
The United States authorities It wa,
stated today, presumed before the
arrival of the submarine liner that
reasoning from the inherent nature o'
such vessels its status would he tina
I of a Warship, and thew were taker
/ completely by surprise when 1t wal
/ discovered that she carried neithei
torpedoes nor guns, nor means for dis
charging torpedoes. 1t was decided
by the naval experts. It was said. to-
day. that the Deutschland could not be
converted into a warship without ma
terial alterations which 1t would bt
/ impossible to make until after tn,
vessel had returned to Germany
| The announcement today that two
Americans will sail on the vessel com
plicated the case. Some officials as.
serted that the ruling OF the govern
msnt on the status of the vessel would
clothe any American passengers with
the full protection of the United
States. The State Department in IT.
ruling fixing the status of the ship II
expected to intimate what policy this
government will adopt If Americans
take passage on the Deutschland
There are two ways in which the
State Department will consider thu
status OF the Deutschland drs from
that OF a neutral while the vessel Ii
in American jurisdiction. and second
/ from that OF an enemy when the yes.
sci Is on the high seas This govern.
ment will determine
Points 10 BE Determined.
/. The status Of the Deutschlar 4
in its jurisdiction IN order that the
government may protect itself from
responsibility for the destruction o.
life and property 10y permitting II.
ports to be used as bases for hostile
operations by belligcrent warships.
2. II the Deutschland carries
commission or order issued by the Ger
man admiralty and directing 1t &c
conduct hostile operations. II 1t IL
conelusively shown by Great Britain
or France that the Deutschland has
conducted hostile operations, 1t may
be considered as a warship.
If sufficient evidence is wanting
the government, in order to safeguard
Itself from Liability for. failure to pre-
serve It's neutrality. ma presume from
the fact the status OF the Deutsch-
land
In considering the status OF the
Deutschland on the high seas II il is
declared to be a merchant ship, this
government will endeavor to hold
Great Britain to these rules:
/ That the status OF the vessel shall
be determined, since the rights OF life
and property of beliigerents and neu-
trails on board may be impaired If its
status is that of a merchantman and
the right Of warming is denied her.
3. The discrimination OF wariiks