Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-11


carrier.
The state department, II was off
cially declared. will not concern itself
with reported objections by Canadian
nickel interests to expectation of nick
Ell on the Deutschland. Agreeme nts of
American purchasers Of Canadian
nickel not to reexport the metal, acting
Secretary Polk explained, was purely
private and no resort could be had TO
the state department to interfere with
nickel shipments on the German
supersubma
Allies Protest
Representations have been made to
the state department by the British
and French embassies setting UP the
claim that the German merchant sub
marine Deutschland is potentially a
war ship, even though designed and
used as a merchantmen.
The department will take the en-
bassies' views under consideration in
connection with the report of Captain
Hughes. the American naval EXPERT
who is making a physical examination
Of the submarine.
Before the arrival of the Deutsch-
land, acting upon press reports that a
submarine was due at an American
port, ColvilIe Barclay, the British
counsellor and charge d affaires in
the temporary absence of Sir Cecil
Spring-Rice, communicated to Score
tary Lansing the position of his gov
eminent regarding the use OF any I'M
derwater craft in commercial service.
Again yesterday Mr.. Barclay in add
ton to notifying the department Of the
arrival Of the Deutschland to lay the
foundation for subsequent claims for
any damages that later might be in
ficted on British commerce directed
Acting Secretary Folks attention 10
the representations he had made on
July >. NJ Jusserand the French am
bassador, also has been in communI-
cation with the department
Amy Sub a Warship.
From the allies point OF view, any
submarine is essentially warshlp-
The United States, Great Britain and
France agree on the doctrine that IL is
Illegal to change the character Of
merchant snip into cruiser or prlVa-
teer on the high seas but the German
government always has insisted upon
that right Consequently, II IS argued,
il would be no violation OF the German
INTERPRETATION Of international law for
the Deutschland to take aboard arma-
ment outside OF the three-mlle nmB
and TO prey upon commerce.
The very nature of construction Of a
submarine, il is also held, makes II i'm
possible for such a craft to comply with
the requirements of international law.
She could not be stopped and searched
and the allies assert, must be regard
ed as an enemy warship subject TO de-
struction upon sight
Officials Inspect Craft
Baltimore, Md, July 11--Amerlcan
navy officers, detailed by the navy de-
partment TO determine the status or
the German submarine Deutschland,
went aboard the craft today. Captain
Paul Koenig, commander Of the
Deutschland, was not there TO receive /
them but they were shown through
the vessel by a marine superintendent /
Of the North German Lloyd line with
her commander permission.
Captain KoeDig today made state 1
ment 70 the customs officials that he /
expected to get away within 10 days /
He had been told that if he rema1neus (
longer than two weeks, the Deutsch- I
land s wireless would be sealed up.
The officers, Captain {. F. Hughes /
and two submarine experts, Lieutenant /
J. o. Fisher Of the bureau of steam /
engineering. and Naval Constructor |
Herbert s. Howard, accompanied by /
the collector Of the port. boarded the /
DeutsChla and at her pier from a tug. |
yeN