The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-15

SOntHu1u FTOTH FjEEN ThkG.t
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before the present war began. This
is In accordance with the principle
pronounced by this government that
tho rules of war may mot be changed
during the duration OF the war.
No Rule to Fit Case.
4 Because OF the inherent nature OF
the submarine. belligerents may not
accept as binding the findings OF
neutral If submarines declared TO be
BILE trading ships are found In
the high seas. There is no absolute
rule to fit the case as to the condition
created by the entrance of the Deutsch-
land into the carrying trade is new,
and there Is no rule of law exactly
ftiing her case,
The neutrality of the United States
has not been violated by permitting the
Deutschland to enter American ports
and to discharge her cargo and take
/ on another here. No evidence was sub
mitted by the allied governments, or
/ any Of them, to prove that the vessel
I IL a warEhip, while the testimony Of
/ he Ame .ican officials who examined
the vessel and Gao reported that she
was not fitted and equipped for war
like operations, was conclusive.
& The United states cannot be held
. ttAUAt ApI dHS hSAb Va WIG
Deutschland. II she should later be
converted into warship. Her status
in this connection may be analogous to
that OF vessels Constructed to be aux
Hilary cruisers, They engage in peace
\ able commerce but may be taken over
by the admiralty of their respective
countries.
Protected In n. g. Jurisdiction.
7. The United states does not pos
sess the right TO declare new princi-
Piles of international law to cover the
l. east OF the Deutschland and similar
merchant submarines. and can onls
apply the existing rules. The laws
protecting merchantmen of belligerent
ownership. should be enforced and tn,
Deutschland be given the full protec
ton OF the United States while sh.
is In American Jurisdiction. She shoult
be permitted to take on any cargo sh
desires. and to exercise all the right:
belonging to a surface merchantmen
AS long as she conforms to the sta
! tutes of the United states while II
American waters
II was said today that the nature OF
the faint attaching to the Deutsch-
land Is the same as that which woulC
be carried by a cruiser or other wal
vessel which had been detached from
"a hffiikttfih navy 1hh NeohGN ~ ''"'
merchant marine. An enemy varsity
seeing the boat at sea would not be-
likely to signal a warning TO the shii
before opening fire on her. II was de
clared.
Another point made In BRITISH
quarter against the Deutschland wa
that If sailing submerged, the war
ship sighting her periscope would no
stop TO make inquiries. but would opel
fire at once because the British govern
ment viii not recognize any submarine
as a merchantmen. but will hold al
submarines without exception to b
1 war vessels,
The state Department may make n
official ruling on the Deutschland. TIL
Treasury Department, through Secre
tary McAdoo. already has declared TIL
vessel to be a merchantmen and M
evidence to the contrary having beer
found by the neutrality board. an OF
fetal declared there was no reason
why the State Department should act
The ship already has been accorde,
every privilege Of a merchantmen. AM
her status as such has received tn
taeit admission of the state Depart
, ment. 1t was said that by not max
ing ruling in the case, the Stat
Department would not be on recor,
ana tNffPtpfe 'WOuiu "iuti 10 -
tude In dealing with any future de
! veiopments II any should arise, az
fectirg the character OF the ship.
No Request for war.hipA
Secretary of the Navy Daniels SAT-
today that no request had come +
him from the State Department t
send warships off the Virginia capes L
preserve American neutrality when tn
Deutschland makes her dash to sea
II is considered practically certain
, however, that such request Will b
made and complied with before tn
Deutschland leaves Baltimore.
, Officials realize that American neu
, trality would be open to grave Ques
: tion II, by any chance. the Deutschlan'
. should be attacked and sunk by al1ie'
. cruisers within the three-mile limit
2 It Is believed therefore that the nav,
will increase it's coast patrol to se
that allied warships remain outsid
the three-mile limit and that the.
make no attempt to attack tn
deutschland before she has passed out
side territorial waters
. Tho betting At the navy In 10 TO
that the submarine succeeds in he
dash to sea. The Deutschland lie OK
pected to wait until tho weather &
propitious and escape In the night.
10 realised that no matter how tn
United States may try to keep new
4 Of the vessels departure secret. II wil
be impossible TO prevent the news from
reaching the allies warships. BY tn
telegraphing to Canada tho time of tn
Deutschiand's departure from Bait
more, and her arrival at the cntranc,
to the eapes and by wirslessins from
I Canada to tho waiting naval vesseis
the allies have an advantage which tn,
United States government IL pcweries,
10 interfere with. Nevertheless nava
officers are confident the sublnsrint
J wiu studs her snsmiss-