The Washington herald., 1916-07-10
Deutschland Brings New Problems.

Deutschland Brings New Problems.
That the Germans have been able to con-
struct a submarine boat, capable OF eludins
enemy warships and crossing the Atlantic with
numerous crew and substantial cargo is the
feature of overshadowing importance and sig
nihcance connected with the arrival OF the
Deutschland in United States port yesterday.
The vessel, which is represented as an undersea
merchantmen, has given US a most Impressive
object lesson. The bobbing up within our waters
OF this huge craft bound on peaceful errand,
gives notice that it is or will be within the
power of the Germans to put submarines equip
ped with guns and torpedoes into any all of
our ports and harbors at will. The arrival of
the Deutschland gives this government number
OF problems to deal with, but compared with the
one relating to the defense of our coast they are
insignificant
German sailors are to be given credit for an
Other brilliant maritime exploit in bringing the
Deutschland safely to port in defiance of watching
warships duly notified and assigned to the task
of intercepting her. but it is no disparagement of
their skill and daring to say that the greatest
credit OF all is due to the designers and builders
Of craft that could be converted into enemy
of a most formidable type.
1t is no great wonder that this giant subma-
rine marvel, capable of submerging in two min
utes at sight of another vessel, able to pick her
course anywhere in the broad Atlantic and safe
from attack the moment she entered our three
mile limit managed by competent hands, COM
pleted the voyage successfully. No doubt she
will undertake to carry back cargo of those
things that Germany is in greatest need Of,
whether they be food supplies munitions. The
return voyage however will be far more hazard
Gus, though not hopeless. When she submerges
within the three-mile limit she is almost certain
to be observed by enemy warships and the re-
turn trip will be a game of hide and seek in
which the Deutschland will be fortunate if she
escapes.
The assumption that the submarine will start
back to Germany with a cargo presupposes that
she will be able to establish her status mer-
chantman to the satisfaction of this government;
and it is inconcevable that the Germans have
taken any chances of having her declared ship
Of war in which case she would be compelled
to leave port within twenty-four hours without
taking anything on board that would benefit Ger
many. The United States during the present
war has defined very explicitly, for the guidance
of beIligerents, the armament it will permit a
merchant ship claiming the privileges of its ports
as such to carry; and if the Deutschland has on
nzed by this government as legal equipment Of
noncombatant her status as such will scarcely
be affected by her ability to travel submerged as
well on the surface. No doubt this question
will be determined quickly upon arrival of the
submarine at Baltimore
Should the Deutschland succeed in making the
return voyage safely, it goes without saying that
others will be attempted, and no doubt other
vessels will be placed in this unique transatlantic
service. However, the risk of such voyages can
hardly be exaggerated. Capture would seem to
be the inevitable fate of majority OF such craft
although a problem is likely to arise involv-
ing restrictions upon ships Of war in dealing with
unarmed submarine merchantmen. 1t would ap-
pear that if warshps may not fire upon these
submergible craft without giving them oppor-
tunity to surrender the warships would find them
selves at great a disadvantage as the subma-
rine torpedo boats in dealing with merchant ships
speeding upon the surface. A vessel that can dis
appear beneath the surface in two minutes offers
little time for parley or negotiations for
render.
In bringing the Deutschland into our waters
the accomplished German sailors have given US
another romance of the sea and presented to US
some knotty international problems; but above
all they have shattered that false sense OF security
which some have entertained because Of the 5000
miles of ocean between our shores and those of
Europe.