New Britain herald., 1916-02-03
Secretary Says Question of Her Disposition Still In wolves Further Consideration of the Hague Con
 vention and the PrusSian- American Treaty.
Captured British Liner Is Now
 Anchored Off Newport New

245 Persons Aboard Craft Allowed f
 Land on American SoiI-2OO Othez
 Detained on Craft By Lieut.. Berg
 British Ambassador Asks Stat
 Department What Disposition Ts
 Be Made of English Subjects HeI1
 Washington, Feb. 3.-Secretar Lansing stated today that there wd no question as to the Appam's statl as a prize but that the question of hd disposition still involved further O sideration of The Hague convent k and the Prussian-American tired Lieutenant Berg's refusal to 1a1l British seamen who were gun poin CTS on British merchantmen will | the subject of further consideration.
 The British ambassador has aske that the ship be returned to her Sri ish owners under article 21 of TfN Hague convention. State departmeaE officials are doubtful that the artic r can be applied to the case of tft Appam because the PruSSian-AmerE can treaty is believed to be bindi1t and because Great Britain signed b never ratified The Hague conventio1
 Interned or Sent to Sea.
 When the disposition of the liner decided she will be released from tf r custody of Norfolk custom authoriti and if turned over to Germany ms F be interned or sent to sea as the Bel lin government chooses.
 Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the Britis ambassador, went again to the sta department today to ask what d 7 position is to be made of the Britt subjects on the liner Appam who, k German captors contend, are in British military service because th were gun pointers on merchantm1 sunk by the German sea raider whid made the Appam prize.
 The British authorities here co tend there is no warrant for holdiis the seamen, and it was understos they were to be released with passengers and crews Lieut. Ser the German commander, objected, a they now are being held pending fu ther conferences of officials.
 Anchors Of Newport News.
 Newport News, Va, Feb. 3-Wi H her German prize commander on bridge the British liner Appam mo ed up from Old Point Comfort earH today and anchored off this port discharge the 245 persons on boa given liberty to land in the Unitf States. The ships legal status st is undetermined. Lieut.. Berg, u German officer moves his craft on Cn1I Jer mi fxk1
 We are treating her as an En1 fish ship which has put into an And ican port flying the German nav ensign and under charge of nls who says he is an officer of the Ge man navy" is MT. Hamilton's expla ation of the present attitude of Il United States.
 Back to England.
 Some of those who were passenge on the Appam when she was ca tured by the German raider, variou ly described as the Ponga or Moew prepared to land in Newport New but most of them will be transferrt with the crews of other capturf British vessels to Norfolk there hoard a steamer to New York on the way to England.
 Sir Edward Merewether ana oth British colonial officers with Tar quantities of baggage have arrang 10 place their property in custom bond here and proceed directly New York to take the first availab ship for home.
 Visitors Still Barred.
 Lieut. Berg still refuses to perm any one to go on board the liner q ,ept those who have official busines He is holding more than 200 peOp aboard, including his own prize cre of twenty two men, some twen Germans who were prisoners of VI on the Appam, Capt. Harrison a1 he entire crew of 155 of the Appai md twelve of her passengers who ne claims belong to the British arn )r navy.
 Fair Prize of War.
 Prince Won Hatzfeldt, counsellor the German embassy at Washingtc and Capt. Gaunt, the British nav attache. reached here from old Poi soon after the ship anchore The prince is urging the German elai that the Appam is fair prize of W; entitled under an old Prussian-Ame ican treaty to remain in an Americ port as long as the prize crew desir Cant Gaunt is managing the remoN nf English subjects and awaiting
 Continued on Eleventh Pase.l