The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-11
German Undersea Boat Found
by Baltimore Collector to Be
in Class of Merchantmen
CAN'T BE WARSHIP
WITHOUT GUNS
Has Three Packages for Ger.
man Embassy---Regular Sub
marine Line to Be Run-An.
other Ship Now on Way

Washington. July lot was vir-
tually decided by the United States
government today that the German
super-submarine Deutschland is a mer.
chant ship and entitled to fun freedom
of American ports.
This decision was tentatively reach.
ed when the state Department received
from the treasury the report of Col
lector of Customs Ryan at Baltimore.
which held the Deutschland met all
the requirements set forth by the
United States In fixing the status OF
merchant vessels
Offcial announcement of the State
Departments ruling as to the peaceful
character OF the submarine, however.
will be withheld until an investigation
Is made by Captain c. F. Hughes. u.
s. N, who has been detailed to make
complete inspection OF the vessel
The naval expert was detailed by
Secretary Daniels at the request OF
Acting Secretary of State Polk, after
the British and French governments
had officially urged the United States
TO satisfy itself fully as to the SUBJ
marines character.
Meets All Requirements.
An official report of the preliminary
investigation made by Collector Ryan
today established the fact that the
submarine carries no torpedoes is not
equipped with torpedoes. liz not armed
with deck guns, is manned by mer-
chant captain and crew. and actually
meets the requirements OF a merchant
vessel, which are that II shall be enc
gagged in the business of transporting
cargoes and passengers for hire.
Evidence that this satisfied the Stats
Department was given by a high off,
ctaf, who remarked that "a vessel can't
be a warship without guns"
Decision to send Captain Hughes to
Baltimore was reached after a confer.
ence between Secretary Daniels, Rear
Admiral william Benson. chief of naval
operations: Rear Admiral David w.
Taylor, chief Of the bureau of construc-
ton and repair, and Rear Admiral
Robert S. Griffin. chief OF the bureau
OF steam engineering.
Captain Hughes formerly was a mem-
Der of the board of inspection of ships.
He was on the staff OF Admiral Badger
at the time of the occupation of Vera
Cruz. He Is now a member OF the navy
general board. II there is no objection
from the German officers, 1t IL probable
officers of the bureaus Of construction
and steam engineering will aid Cap
tain Hughes In making his inspection.
1dptaii EtuEHc5, SECRETARY baNteIS
explained will examine all parts OF
the ship necessary TO determine its
character" He made this explanation
when n question came up as to whether
the naval expert would make an ex.
animation OF the engines carried by
the Deutschland. There Is particular
interest shown by naval officers in the
submarine's engines, as one of this
greatest troubles the American navy
has had with its submarines has been
through engine breakdowns.
Captain Hughes IL under instructions
to ascertain the ownership of the ves-
sci. the character of her papers and Of
the Dag she flies, whether her ofncers
and crew are members Of the merchant
marine or part Of the naval establish-
ment of Germany, and whether the
vessel Is armed. The Treasury Departs
ment already has satisfied itself on
all these points through the report OF
Collector Ryan.
As to secret Cradles.
One investigation Captain Hughes
will make, however, which the collec-
tor of customs could not be expected
construction by which torpedo tubes
might be installed at sea, and any
secret cradles or other means avaii-
able for transporting torpedoes on tina
submarine. Discovery that ii might ba
possible to convert the submarine at
sea into a warship would put another
phase on the subject Naval oficiais
do not for a moment conceive that such
Is the case, but the point Is one on
which they insist the United States has
right to inform itself. especially since
Germany's enemies have formally asked
the United States government to ass
sure itself as TO the submarines char
acter.
If any objections are made by tbs
captain of the German vessel. on tbs
grounds that he does not wish sscreta-
of German submarine construction to
become known to United States naval
officers. the state and treasury oficiais
are prepared to cite section 3e5s Of the
Revised Statutes as their authority.
This section gives the United states
the right to send q naval officer or
other ofsicials aboard = vessel In Amer-
lean ports. The section reads In part
"It shall be lawful for any oficeS
OF the customs. including inspectoTs
and occasional inspectors. or of rsves
nue. cutter. or an authorised agent et
the Treasury Department. or other per~a
son appointed for the pwrpAes n writ~s
Ing by thI collector. naval ofkees ~
survsysr - = sssssd y - -