The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-07-09
SUBMARINE BRINGS
i DIPLOMATIC PUZZLE
State Department viii Make I'm.
mediate Inquiry to Deter.
! mine Status Of Boat.
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Continued From First Pase)
pedoes for attack or be manned by
naval gunners taking orders from the
German admiralty, II was indicated
clearly the vessel will be characterized
~ q warship and compelled to leave
port within twenty-four hours or in
tern for the war.
II, however. the submarine be manned
BY q civilian crew, taking orders from
private owpers, and the vessel armed
only for defense, then, II was held. the
United States could regard 1t only as a
merchant ant,s ship p1 ana give 1t full freedom
Moreover, X regarded as a merchant
ship. the United States would expect
from the allies the same consideration
Gel as is demanded Of Germany in the
case OF merchantmen Of other bellig-
erents leaving American ports.
In deciding the status Of the Deutsch-
land. state Department officials said to-
blaze new diplomatic trail.
There Is no precedent Of a submarine
assuming the character of a merchant
pan and carrying passengers and cargo
The only recourse the State Depart
tnent has. therefore, is to apply the
rules applicable to ordinary merchant
vessels to the German submarine.
Views in Note of September 10, 1914.
The State Department outlined the
position Of the United States regarding
ths status Of armed merchantmen t,n,anrs en-.
dunn sent to all belligerent govern
ments September 10, 1914. The position
then taken and still maintained Is:
That a merchant vessel Of belligerent
nationality may carry armament and
Ammunition for the sole purpose of de-
Tense without acquiring the character
Of a ship of war
That the presence Of armament and
sci creates a presumption that the ar
tnament is for offensive purposes. but
this presumption may be overcome by
evidence showing, that the vessel car
Evidence that the armament Is for
defense will be that the guns are few
in number. Of caliber not larger than
elk inches. mounted aft; that ammuni.
ton is carried only in small quantities
that the vessel Is manned by Its usua
crew that its cargo consists OF articles
OF commerce unsuited for war; that II
IT carries passengers, they are Of class
untitled to enter military service.
No Rules for Torpedoes.
No rules ever were adopted regarding
the carrying of torpedoes on board mer
ficials believe the presence Of torpedoei
on board would give vessel belligeren
character.
The State Department will ask thu
Secretary OF the Treasury to instrnc
the collector OF the port Of Baltimore
to mako an immediate Investigation o.
tho submarine. and report his findings
TO Washington.
Haste is necessary. as action must bt
taken by the State Department within
tyenty-four hours after the arrival o
oueers q q p the Bureau of con.truc
ton and Repair and the Bureau o
Steam Engineering Of the Navy De
partment expect to go to Baltimore Il
Inspect the submarine. the first under
sea boat, which ever crossed the At
j lantic. .. ..,.
Collector Hamilton Reports.
F. M. Halstead. chief Of the Gus
tons division Of the Trseaury De
partmet, received a report by lonl
distance telephone from Norman
Hamilton. collector Of customs a
Norfolk, telling of the arrival Of tn
German submarine.
Collector Hamilton did not see tn
submarine, but said he talked to tn
pilot who went out to pick up tn
The pilot told him he had talked t
the captain OF the Deutschland and I
the captain Of the tug Timmons.
Collector Hamilton sSid the submarin
arrived at o'clock and at was take
IN tow by the tug. which started up tn
Chief Halstead said he would make n
report TO the State Department until h
= officially advised by William T. Ryar
collector Of the port Of Baltimore. @
the submarines arrival there.