The Washington herald., 1916-10-13
WOULD PUT BAN
ON WAR VESSELS
Closing ofU. S. Waters to Bel
ligerents Is Urged.

| The Joint State and Navy Neutrality
Board has submitted TO the State Depart
ment its report and recommendation
concerning submarine warfare on tbs
American coast II Is understood that
the findings Of the board are unfavorsble
to continuation by Germany Of scttvi-
ties similar to those OF Nantucket LAEht-
ship last Sunday. when the us sank ~
merchant vessels. It was said yesterdsy
| that the neutrality board declared Eg-h
operations in proximity TO Ameritzu
shores constituted a nuisance whi-h
should be abated, and that in that Wv
the United States should refuse hort
tality TO all beIlgerent war vessels
| The board found. It was stated, thst
oelhgerent operations close 10 America
shores were obnoxious and that
United States had the right to consids-
them as nuisance. Being a nuisarar
committed at our doors" It was as
serted, such operations would corr
within the purview Of municipal reEulE-
tons.
Urged TO Notify Hague.
| The board is said TO have reconuuer F-
ed that the State Department notify tlys
government Of the Netherlands az IL
Hague OF any change in this countr,ss
regulations affecting hospitality to b.
hgerent war vessels. in accordance wiz
convention XIII. Article q. Of The HaEus
I conventions
Some authorities were Of the opinion
that as the United States merely gave its
adhesion to that convention. the noti-
hcatiOn to The Hague called for is not OF
treaty force. This government, It was
stated. would Informally notify the bel
ligerent's diplomatic representatives in
Washington Of any change in this coup-
try's regulations relating 70 beIliEerent
warships in American waters.
The recommendations OF the neutrality
board, it was said. by some experts
would carry this country's nuniriDaI
regulations farther than has ever bas,
attempted, and considerably farther than
| the twelve-mile limit in the British how
e<tng act
Extreme Point Beached. q
The extreme pe4nt the United ststs.
has gone in this discussion is disclosed
in a note by Secretary Of State HsufI-
ton Fish to the American Legation in
Paris on October L 1870. during the
Franco-PrussiOn war. French cruisers
had been standing in the steamer lane,
OF New York and other American ports.
TO the prejudice Of American shipping.
Nj Fish said:
this government would regard
as an Unfriendly act the lowering OF
such vessels upon the coast Of the United
States, near TO its shores. in the neigh
borhood OF its ports, with intent 10 in
teroept the vessels of trade Of its enemy
President Grant on October S, following
issued a proclamation concerning the
abuse Of American hospitality by French
cruisers. saying:
'- any freQUenting and use Of the
waters within the territorial Jurisdiction
Of the United States by the armed
vessels Of either belligerent for
the purpose Of preparing for hostile
operations or as posts OF observation
- must be regarded as Unfriendly
and offensive |''
Might Invade High Sea-
As the operations Of the German sub
marine us took place some seventy
miles on the American coast, however,
II was said by some persons acquainted
" III lIt DOdTu recommendations that
to put them into effect would necessitste
an invasion Of the high seas by the
United States.
1t was said aUthoritatveIy yesterday
that the department, before deciding
upon any policy, will examine all the
| evidence.
The Navy Department received yester-
day a report from Rear Admiral KNIGHT
i at Newport transmitting the reports OF
the commanders OF four vessels sunk by
| the C-52
Il The Navy Department received also q
report from Admiral Gleaves. command
ing the destroyer force at sea, express
ing his personal belief that all the sur
vivors are accounted for and that there
was no steamer sunk named the King
ston or Kingstonian. Admiral Glesves
believed the steamer Knudsen was under
stood by the wireless hail to be the King
u ston.
Admiral GIeaves added that the de-
| stroyer force had discontinued fbs