Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-11

ers with it's intentions that they
might warn their citizens against fur
ther intrusting their persons or prop
eriE TO merchantmen belonging 10
powers II, war with the German en-
pirc.'
| DR.. Alfrei Zimmerman. Undcr- Sec
rotary Of Foreign Affair.". said:
We believe we can meet Secretary
! Lansings ideas concerning submarine
! war"
He stated tina; the action would
be taken AS soon rs ncu,rals could
adjust their commerce.
| MERCHANTMEN FIRE UpoN
GERMAN SUBMARINES
II was explained that Germany takes
her present step III view of what she
cites AS secret instructions Of the
British admiralty 10 merchant ships
10 open tire on submarines. Germany
further citing nineteen instances
wherein il is charged German subm,
rines have been hred upon by mer-
chantmen The memorandum CON
Guided:
Under the enumerated circnm-
stances, enemy merchantmen armed
with guns no longer have the right
|
men The German sea forces there
fore will he ordered TO treat such ves-
sells as warships after a short interval
granted in the interests Of neutrals
The German government makes neu
trail powers aware OF this situation
that they may warn their citizens
against further intrusting their per
sons or property to armed merchant
men belonging 10 powers at war with
the German empire"
The governments action. IL is stated
follows the finding OF the British in
structions adduced on board the Brit
ish ship Woodheid
WASHINGTON, February 1o.-Ger.
many and Austria Hungary have form.
ally notined the United States that
beginning March comma nders of
their submarines will consider armed
merchant ships Of the entente allies
TO be warships, and will treat them ac
cordingly.
Under such instructions commanders
would be at liberty 10 sink without
warning any armed vessel. whether
passenger or freight-carrying
The notifications were presented
orally to Secretary Lansing by Coun,
Won bernstorff and Baron Erich Zwied-
mex. charge OF the Austro- Hungarian
en- bassy here.
Notes from their governments arc
10 follow.
The Intention Of the Teutonic allies
is considered in official and diplomatic
circles mere TO be development of
the memoranda proposing the disarm-
ing Of merchant ships which Secretary
al IL,
powers.
High officials Of the State Depart.
ment seemed disposed to consider the
development broad enough 10 warrant
the claim that the fundamental oues
tons involved in the conduct OF sub
marine warfare have been settled in
accordance with the contentious Of the
United states. This is based uuou the
pehef that with Germany and Austria
hungary giving notice that they will
SINK without warning all armed mer-
chant ships. TIE two governments can
not legally claim the right TO sink
unarmed vessels. That is the prin
ciple for which the United states has
so vigorously contended since the he
ginning Of the negotiations over the
conduct OF submarine war
WILL. TAKE PASSAGE
AT THEIR OWN RISK
In view OF this situation, American
ctt!zens II Is stated by high authority.
now may be warned that they will
take passage aboard armed merchant
ships AT their own risk. ana he on
titled TO II" more protection from Tho
United states than ii they had en-
barktd upon a belligcren, warship
oihciaIS to-day seemed no, to he abb.
10 conceive that any issue could aris.
IN the future from "a submarine war
rare conducted under these rules,
J, was said in Teutonic diplomatic
circles that the effective date of ,h.
instructions was postponed solely for
the reason that tile central mowers dc
sired 10 give enemy merchant shin. a,
opportunity To diSarm, ana so that tia
entente allies might have the chance
10 make their views conform TO the
SUGGESTIONS put forward b:' the Cnited
states III us memorandum. This MEM
orandum declared il was desirahi. ,h.,
merchant ships should be unarmcd a,,,1
contained an intimation of an int.r-
ton 10 regard armed mercbant,na,
which come into American waters 81.
warshps.
IL was considered that the immedi,t.
effect of the notification would No ~
cause the department to annon,
more quickly than had been donna
advisable It's intention 10 abandon ~
old ruling. made before German cr,,i..
ers were driven from the seas vrhIo,,
permitted merchant ships to carr.
arms for defensive purposes.
EXPECT 1. =. IGGESTIONS
WILL DE RESPECTED
In the embassies Of the allies hon.
1t vas freely stated, that althnurn
word had not been received from their
governments. not The slightest doupt
prevailed that the suggestions of tho
United states would he rejected
The views OF the diplomats secmod
to be that AS enemy submarines surnIw
would sink their merchantmen rc.
CARELESS of whether they resisted or
not. shipmastcrs would prefer td ia,so
their chances nj saving their yesscIs
by fighting IL they were unable To es.
cape capture by flight.
Confronted with the virtual threat
OF the United states to classify armed
merchant ships as war vessels. ana
therefore not entitled to enter Ameri.
can waters more than once I'm everv
six months. or to remain more than
twentyfour hours, it was said nj one
81 hn I'm ct hor hot r