The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-04
MIL CONSIDER APPAM
LEGAL PRIZE OF WAR

washington, Feb. s.--The state De-
gaftfnent was advised tonight that in
ssfmvsiauce with its orders arrange
epas had been made for the release
ssf ihr British cttizens aboard the Ger
rssaA prize ship Appam at Hampton
Ecada.
secrstary Lansing cfneiA,iy au-
sssbHncea tksst the Bnised STATES wiai
conaider the Appam legal German
prize OF war and Will proceed accord
ingiy.
Counsellor Polk and Assistant Soil
eltor wooisey. Of the State Department.
had d two~hcur conference ut the de-
pnrtment late today with the special
neutrality beard over the question OF
the disposition to be made of the Ap-
pam and its prize crew
IL was announced at the close Of the
sonference that a final decision had
rot been reached These officials said
they were not inclined to hasten a de-
eiFion. as the pressing needs OF the
situation had been met by tho release
III the passengers and crews aboard
ahe vessel %ltu The exception of the
prize crew and former German pris-
aners, who naturally would be expected
70 remain Ia charge OF the ship they
captured
One decision reached by the State
= JfEPAEAkHFAt WUSftalN a}}G Tic hEuAi
Al hoard, which acts In an advisory
cspactsy in all questions affecting neu-
xyAi rights WAS that the rrussian-
American treaty VIII rule in disposing
ri the case ~ the .sppam as prize.
Ne nMeaHt Announcement.
No uffietsi announcement Of this de-
clsion was made because the State
Department plans 20 accompany such
xnnouncement with statement Of its
reasons for applying the treaty, which
Il lAAxrs ttse German government in con-
troll or iss prize rather than the articles
af Tie Hague convention, which
~nala force release ST the vessel to Its
fsrftisn owners
AttorneSs for the agents OF the
3feanshtp inc owning the vessel have
Z rs1asae q Rrltien request 10 the State
Il DApErtment for ifs release. but no
01sclsf actic was SVEN the communi-
ratsua,
Il. 4 result Of the exploit Of the
4 AppaHa, state Department offieiaIs
A&Ard tod NJ thai Great Britain will
fnnsenia. Ely increase the number of
ss!.a2r Crl lsers for patrol duty along the
s.p&st III he Thltea States. Their only
Ssxspss for tiia lsst year has been TO keep
ssssk on eanasserciai vessels going out
fhc port OF New York, Navy offi-
A.s5aals b~sieve that common prudence
8eagS4sI tHunEErs the brlttAn government
III n inceease its saard 10 prevent Ger
ss34n veseeis bringing pTixss into ports
;Sss~s the TEIted States
33pcfts 10 the Navy Department
x@-nw that for The last ten days two.
II3Sssssad acanislase three British cruisers
asAvA heen isiag on New York and
d occasionally making short excursions
ak8 xIse North and SOUTH
9461s1k AppaM rosnmnnAer WaA S0ttheA.
3 pssrjng that uerioa. IL is said. there
81 St&f 4 no rfassers guarding the mouth
81 8l*e napes. Dassers believe II d fair
N tfu1son shat the German commander
Il nh Appan IN some way WAS In
& 2fzne4 os this fact
|zs fAt< aud May Department cfiicfaIs
81 K7& Aaix< 10 the situation that may be
4 6pKht about il, as reported, the Ger
q &1SM raider thai captured the Appam
sfN mt the only armed German vessel
y 3ek has slipped through the Kfei
xtxNai 5pto the Atlantic. but that other
8S4x&*R arr an the seas seeking out
ESxsY sommsreiai vessels.
"a 5sn&xF fh* operation of the Prugxian :
II HkvirHu treaty. Germany would feel
ke bring any prssss thar mas. he
<n&x4re& into an American port. II
atts ennAideratson hat caused OIL
3 fele te1ar N Etys fnll ersdsnes 80