New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-03
BRITISH PRAISE
APPAM EXPLOIT
But Naval Authorities In
sist Vessel Must Be
Released.
~
n Cahi, 20 III TrthNnn.

London. Feb. 2.-"It is one OF the
things We would have liked to have
done ourselves" is the laughing com
mont in naval circles regarding the APP
PANS capture.
Nevertheless, high naval authorities do
not attempt to disguise their attitude.
They say the Appam ia a prize under
Articles q, % and 23 OF The Hague
Convention Of 1907. and therefore must
either leave Norfolk Immediately or the
United States must release her and in
tern the prize crew.
No one doubts here that the bullion
aboard was the objective Of the Moewe
and also that the Appam was taken to
all American port instead OF the
nearer Spanish ports for the sake OF
raising friction between the British
and American governments.
The fate Of the bullion is still IN
known hero. and Is awaited with some
anxiety. Meanwhile it is expected that
the Moewe's career is likely TO be eX-
ceedingly short, but naval opinion is
that. having fulfilled her mission, she
il likely to seek internment.
Clauses 81 and % Of the Hague Con-
vention provide that merchantmen
cannot be converted into al auxiliary
cruiser on the high seas and that a
merchantmen prize can be taken into a
neutral port only under certain cir
cumstances Of distress, injury or lack
of food. and If she does not depart
within a stipulated time cannot be IN
termed, but must be turned over 70 the
original owners, with all Of her cargo.
According 70 the British contention.
under these clauses the prize crew must
be lnteTned.
PerpleMty regarding the question OF
insurance on the Appam is admitted at
/ Lloyd's, as the case is an unprecedented
4 one The solution of the puzzle de-
ponds largely on the attitude OF the
/ United States government as to whether
/ the Appam ia 20 be considered mer-
/ chairman or q German cruiser. She IS
considered a war loss BY the under
writer's. however. and Il Is believed she
will not be announced az LlOyd's as
having arrived safely at port, as would
have been done II she had cOmplcte ed
4 her journey 10 England.
The sinking Of the other vessels By
/ the Germans means a large loss 10 the
+ underwriters. 1t probably will amount
, TO about S3,500,O0O.
& Since the news Of the Appams arri-
val there has been some anxiety as "a
whether the raider Moewe might have
attacked any other passenger boats. !,
has been ascertained. however. that all
the South African liners are accounted
for Two big liners, Walmer Castle
and Kenilworth Castle. are both safe
/ but neither of them had seen anything
Of the German raider.
Long lines Of relatives or tho pas
serCers brought 70 port by the Appam
recalling scenes 81 the time Of the
/ Titanic and Lusitania disasters, turned
to-day's gathering IN front Of the com
pany's Offices into joyful celebration
The steamer Clan MacTavish. which
is reported sunk by the Moewe, was
ono OF the most valuable OF the Clan
Line She carried a very rich cargo
consisting mostly Of wool and beet
from Australia and New Zealand. Hcr
I crew numbered eighty.
Wool dealers here have been anxious
F for some time concerning tho where
obOufs ~ mo steamer.
British mercantile marine oi.cles
have been greatly aroused by the capt
ure Of the Appam. \ sea captain OF
forty years experience declares that
1 the raider could not have sailed from
+ q German port and have escaped the
vigilance Of the British navy. but tina.
from his familiarity with the American
coast he was satisfied that she had So.
out from some obscure American point.
The precedent is cited in shipping
circles of Captain Semmes. the COM
mander Of the Alabama. who. on capt
uring the Tuscaloosa IN 1883. took the
vessel TO Cape Town as a prize Tho
British government finally decided that
the captured ship should be returned
to her owners.