Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-07-13

0FItis.l ana french AmpdSSaoOFS MAKE
Representations That U-Boat Is Po'
tentiaIy Naval Craft-Another Di-
yer Is Reported Sailing West-Is
Built Like Deutschland.
Washington, July 12-On the
strength of advice from navy experts
who inspected the Deutschland at Bal.
tlmore, the treasury department in
formed the state department that the
German merchant submarine is an un-
armed freight carrier which could not
be converted for offensive use withou
extensive structural changes
Treasury Department Acts.
The treasury department acted aft
er receiving the following telegram
from Collector Ryan at Baltimore:
In company with Captain Hughes
/ 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 estructural changes.
/ reaffirm my statement that this ship
Is a merchant vessel. A complete and
detailed report will be mailed at
once
Claim Submarine Is Warship.
Representations have been made to
the state department by the British
and French embassies setting up the
claim that the German merchant sub
marine Deutschland is potentially a
warship, even though resigned and
used as a merchantmen.
The department will take the en-
bassies views under consideration in
connection with the report of Captain
Hughes, the American naval expert
who is making physical examination
Of the big submarine in search Of any
warlike equipment.
Tells Britain's Position.
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 counselor and charge
d'affaires in the temporary absence of
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, communicated
to Secretary Lansing the position of
his government regarding the use Of
any underwater craft in commercial
service.
Again Monday Mr.. Barclay, in adj
dition to notifying the department of
the arrival of the Deutschland, to lay
the foundation for subsequent claims
for any damages that later might be
inflicted on British commerce, took
occasion to direct Acting Secretary
Folks attention to the representations
he had made on July 3.
NJ Jusserand, the French ambassa-
dor, also has been in communication
with the department.
All Divers War Craft.
From the allies point of view any
submarine is essentially a warship.
The United States, Great Britain and
France agree on the doctrine that it
is illegal to change the character OF
a merchant ship into a cruiser Of pri-
vateer on the high seas, but the Ger
| man government always has insisted
| upon that right.
Consequently, it is argued, it would
be no violation Of the German inter
probation of international law for the
Deutschland to take aboard armament
outside of the three-mile limit and to
prey upon commerce.
The very nature Of construction OF
submarine, it is also held, makes 1t
| impossible for such a craft to comply
with the requirements of information
al law. She could not be stopped and
searched and, the allies assert, must
| be regarded as an enemy warsh1p
subject to destruction upon sight.
Says Another Submarine on Way.
Amsterdam, Hol., July 12.-Another
commercial submarine, the Bremen,
constructed by the same company that
built the Deutschland, already has
left the harbor, according to the Ber-
| lin Vossische Zeitung. This state
| ment was made by the newspaper in
giving details regarding the owner
| ship of the Deutschland.
Gets $4,000 Check.
Baltimore, July pa check for
$4,000 was received by Captain KONG
of the subsea merchantmen Deutsch-
land from August Heckscher, a New
York capitalist, in recognition of the
submarines feat. The sum will be
distributed among the officers and the
men. Mr.. Heckscher sent the check
through Charles Won Helmolt, man
ager of the North German Lloyd
| Steamship Company.
! nIAnTE n an 10 AAAhH n