The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-02-29
TO SINK ARMED SHIPS
'cOnsnu.a from T,r.. r.s.,

- 1850 ~ ANoArN capture Duk not 10
act extensively. OF course. Il is ad-
mitted. vessel losses all immunity
while in the act OF resisting.
Authoritative information obtained
here tonight indicated that the Brit
ish government probably would com
bat the allegations of Germany that
British ships ostensibly armed for de-
Tense are In reality armed for often
sive purposes. II was said that Brit
ish masters had not been instructed
TO hunt for submarines. that on the
contrary they had been told 10 do
everything possible TO avoid the craft.
and that only in the event of a hostile
submarine approaching without warn
ing near enough to use bombs or tor
pedoes Were the shippers authorized
10 use their guns
All things considered the state de-
partment Is understood to feel tina,
the possibility is more or less remote
OF difficulties arising in the near fu-
ture as result of the new German
and Austrian policy. In the first place
officials believe that commanders OF
German and Austrian submarines will
take particular care not to attack with
out warning armed merchant vessels
upon which there may he Americans
This belief Is strengthened by the dec
laration in the German note received
today. which was acquiesced in by
Austria through Baron Zwiedinek,
charge OF the embassy here. that the
orders issued TO the naval command
ers We're so formulated as 10 prevent
the destruction OF enemy liners "on
account OF their armament unless such
armament II proved"
False Ir,nreSsioo
In the note presented By Count von
BernstOrff several references are made
10 declarations OF the United States in
previous correspondence IN the Lust
tania case. There were strong init
nations today that administration Off
cials are inclined 10 resent the repet'-
ton of certain expressions and refer.
enCes without the text in which they
appeared. holding that in doing so The
German government has given a false
impression of the attitude OF this gov
eminent. IL was even suggested that
should the United States reply 10 the
communication presented today u
may take occasion TO point out the
erroneous construction placed upon
several OF these expressions.
4 communication from Germany
probably viii be considered by PRIEST
and official indication regarding u -
expected soon thereafter.
The note AZ the outset reiterates the
previous pledges. which We're given on
september ! and October last year
for the safety of unresistinr liners and
then goes on 30 say the German gov
eminent does not believe those as
surances have been modified by the
new me uOraudum
DURING the negotiation over the
Lusitania. 30 says. no mention was
made - armed merchantmen. ana
that tho United States ls one OF ITS
notes on The Lysitaula mention un-
armed merchantmen. Attention then
Is called TO the assurances previously
given in which if is stated that liners
Will not D., sunk without warning. pro
yided they do not offer resistance. At
tentiou also is called 20 the statement
OF tie American government in its no
ticc TO port authorities that the pres
euce OF armament on board mer-
chant vessel creates the presumption
that the vessel is armed for ofense.
II Is stated that submarine ~or1-
mander cannot be- expected TO warn
an enemy merchantmen which has
right 20 fire ON the submarine which
warns 10 and the German government
sets up IN" cunt-utipn that equip
mcnt aud intention to resist a warn
ing given hy q submarine does not
come within The definition Of deten-
sivy armament
U. S. Has Similar View
Germany contends hat similar
viewpoint was taken hy ne United
States and that 10 occurred assurances
g.. ID .HrH