The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-07-12
U-BOAT A TRADER
TREASURY SAYS
Navy Experts Say Deutschland
is Unarm.d Frsightsr.
THE COLLECTOR REPORTS
The British and French Embassies
Allege the SubmerSble is a Poten-
tial Warshp.

tial Warship.
Washington, July 12-On the
strength of advice from navy experts
who inspected the Deutschland at Bal
timOre, the treasury department in
formed the state department that the
German merchant submarine was an
unarmed freight carrier which could
not be converted for offensive use
without 'eXtensive structural changes"
The treasury department acted after
receiving the following telegram from
Collector Ryan, at Baltimore:
"In company with Captain Hughes,
l have made thorough inspection of
the Deutschland. All spaces except
those occupied by cargo and oils were
visited. There is no evidence that
this ship is armed or can be armed
without extensive structural changes.
| reatiirm my statement of Monday
that this ship is a merchant vessel.
A complete and detailed report will be
mailed"
Representations have been made to
the state department by the British
and French embassies setting up the
claim that the Deutschland is pOten-
TALLY a warship, even though design
ed and used as a merchantmen.
The department will take the en-
bassies' views under consideration In
connection with the report of Captain
c. F. Hughes, the American naval ex-
pert, who has been making physical
examination Of the big submarine in
search of any warlike equipment.
Before the arrival of the Deutsch-
land, acting upon the basis Of reports
in the press that submarine was due
at an American port, Colville Barclay,
the British counsellor and charge d.
affiaires in the temporary absence Of
Sir Cecil Spring Rice, commune ated
to Secretary Lansing the position OF
this government regarding the use OF
any underwater craft in commercial
service.
Again, Mr.. Barclay, in addition to
notil ying the department of the arrival
OF the Deutschland, to lay the founda-
tion for subsequent claims for any
damages that later might be inflicted
on British commerce, took occasion to
direct Acting Secretary Forks atten-
tion to the representations he had
nadE On jury IL. ] Us sef sfftd,- ttte he
French ambassador, also has been In
communication with the department.
From the allies point OF view any
submarine is essentially warsh1p.
The United States, Great Britain and
France agree on the doctrine that 1t
is illegal to change the character OF
a mere Aantship into a cruiser or prl-
vateer on the high seas, but the Ger
man government always has insisted,
upon that right. Consequently, it Is
2.l .;.o1,, :. ..otiiaspe no Violation of the
German Interpretation O. international
/ law for the Deutschland to take aboad
armament outside of the three-mile
| limit and to prey upon commerce.
The very nature of construction Of
a submarine, it is also held, makes 1t
impossible 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 regarded as an enemy warship SUBJ
ject to destruction upon sight.
Other points of objection to the
recognition by the United States gov
ernment of the right of German sub
marines to make use OF American
ports without restraint, thus consti-
tuting a menace not only to allied but
to neutral commerce, are expected to
be developed and pressed upon the
state department, just as soon as the
report of Captain Hughes has been
received.
The art Of being happy IS the art Of
discovering the depths that lie In the