The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-09
U. S. WILL WARN?
State Department Finds Way
Out of U-BOat Tangle.
Americans Must Infer They Are
to Stay OFF Armed Ships.
Statement TO Be ISSUED
Incoming Merchantmen To Be
Subjected to Examination.
Is Held Vessels Have Right to
Escape if Possible.

Washington. March "A statement
making clear this governments posi-
ZION in the new submarine issues
now so tangled that the average citl-
zen has lost the threads to be given
the world.
It was learned today that the ad-
ministration is preparing forInai
announcement to be issued soon ana
designed for consumption abroad as
well as at home.
Americans planning to travel on
armed merchantmen flying the 1laSs
of any of the European oellgerenls
will receive indirect but effecuVe
warning from the state department
that they take passage on such Shlps
at their own risk.
This became known after the White
House had issued a formal denial or
report circulated in the capitol during
the day that the president had decided
to issue a formal warning
The state department OFFICIALS, now
ever did not hesitate to explain that
sea-going Americans will presently
find themselves as effectually warned
against passage on armed merchant
men as though this government hao
in fact put into force either the Gore
or McLemore resolutions. 1t is to be
done in either of two ways:
Methods to Be Used.
FTRST-The next arrival in an
American port of an armed mer-
chairman will be followed by
searching examination by govern
ment officials as to the nature OF
its armament. If it is held to be
offensive in character, the ship
will be regarded as an auxiliary
cruiser and ordered out of port at
the expiration of "a hours
SECOND-The first instance of
the sinking of an armed mer-
I,oy 7fT
submarine will be Immediately
investigated by this government
with a view to ascertaining
whether the ships armament was
offensive or defensive. If the
United States decides that the
merchantmen was armed often
sively, it's decision will be accom-
panied by an opinion that the
submarine was within it's interna-
tional rights in destroying the
ship without laying itself open to
attack.
In either case travelling Americans
will receive unmistakable evidence o
the attitude of the executive brancl
| of the government and will have am
pie reason to know that taking passag,
on such a merchantmen will depriv,
them of all rights of redress.
Officers Orders Important
The date of arrival of the first o
the armed merchantmen which tn
| state department knows are on thei
way to the United States was not fur
nished today, but it is understood i
is close at hand. It was stated tina
one of the factors that would deter
mine wether the ship was in fact al
auxiliary cruiser would be 1.-The order
to the officer these orders being pre-
sumably those com planned of in tn
appendices to the German and Aus
trian notes.
r1aT7y r71a, Of tho ;
is believed, has already been commu
nicated to all collectors of customs a
all American ports and complete in
Structons as to what constitutes of
fensive, as against defensive arma
ment. are now in their hands
Merchantmen outside territorial wa
tiers of this country have certain wei
defined rights which the state de
partment made plain today Thes
rights refer to escape or resistance t.
capture: The way the department
views these two propositions NAV b
summarized as follows:
Ships May Run.
A merchantmen has a right an
may exercise it, to resist capture b
trying to escape or by using it's de
fensive armament extensively. Sue
right, however is exercised at III
merchantman's risk. This govern
ment holds that a submarine has
right to visit and search but mus
safeguard passengers if the vessel i
destroyed.
The merchantmen, even If 1t at
tempts 20 resist capture by flight
must obey the warning shot of tn
submarine. Conversely the submarin
forfeits all its rights if it fires at o
/ torpedoes a ship which has cease
to resist by flight or otherwise.
1t is pointed out that none of tn
British nor French trans-Atlanti