Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-07-27
DEUTSCHLAND III.
HAS CLEARED
German Undersea Boat May
Leave Baltimore
Today
TIMMONS COALING: UP
British Tramp Steamer Will Depart
at the Same Time U-Boat Moves
Down River

Baltimore, July 27-When the Ger
man subsea freighter Deutschland
skins down the Patapsco for the
capes, en- route home, big British
tramp steamer, the Ardgryfe, is due
to follow her as syp ship.
An officer of the watch boat ad-
mitted today that 1--WE plan to go out
when our friend over yonder does"
He was reticent about his purpose
though he admitted he and his jar
crew are keeping a lookout.
The Deutschland is still screened
behind her barge protectors. The
tug Timmins is ready to tow her.
Washington, July 27-Aroused by
an official report from the commander
of the battleship Louisiana that 8
mysterious ship, purporting to be q
British cruiser, had passed into the
mouth of Chesapeake bay early Tues
day morning, the Navy Department
yesterday ordered the armored crui,
ser North Carolina and three destroy
ers to neutrality duty off Cape Henry
Officials maintained unusual sec
recy regarding the matter and would
not disclose just what instructions
were sent to the commander of the
North Carolina. 1t was assumed
however, that he had been directed tt
see that the German merchant sub.
marine Deutschland, now preparing
for her return trip to Germany, is moi
attacked by allied war vessels within
the three-mile limit and that Am
erican neutrality is not otherwise
violated.
. Unofficially navy officers agreed that
if the ship sighted from the Louisiana
was British cruiser, the commander
of the vessel had been guilty of q
breach of naval practice and had vio-
lated navigation laws in cruising
within territorial waters without pro-
per lights. While it was within her
rights in entering territorial waters,
provided she had observed the rules,
Il was declared an attempt to run in
to the bay on scouting expedition
and in disregard of navigation laws
would constitute gross violation oi
international courtesy.
Since the name of the craft IS not
known and since she apparently re-
turned to sea after a brief inspect n
Of the roadstead only the principle n
volved in the incident can be treated
in whatever course the Washington
Government may pursue. 4 violation
Of navigation laws cannot be held
against an unidentified ship.
1t was clearly indicated last night
that adequate precautions would be
taken by naval vessels on: neutrality
duty to see that the visit was not Z
peated unless. with proper formali-
ties and that British or French war
vessels which might be lying off che
Capes waiting for the German mer-
chant submarine to pass out on ner
return journey did not violate Aneri-
can neutrality.
The statement that the mysterious
visitor in the roads Tuesday night
made the signal English cruiser"
puzzled. navy; officers. The ordinary
style of reporting the identity of a
warship to passing vessel or marine
lookout would require formal state
ment of nationality and name. The
Louisiana would report, as the ~
s S. Louisiana" and British war
ship ordinarily would say III. M. s.
His Majesty's Ship before giving
her name.
Officials were at loss also to account
for the purpose of the trip. 1t was
pointed out that the cruiser coult
have had little hope of obtaining valu-
able information about the Deutsch,
land in an flying night visit in the
lower bay. The British Embassy hao
no information on the subject anc
embassy officials said they doubted
that British commander would under
take such method of seeking in
formation about the German subma'
rine.