The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-02
AWAIT INVESTIGATION
BY GERMAN AUTHORITIES

washington. Nov. 1.--Secretary OF
state Lansing announced today that
the state Department would neither
act nor comment on the cases of the
Marina and Rowanmore, British
ships supposedly sunk by German sub
marines. until the German govern
ment has had an opportunity to IN
vestigate the incidents.
reasonable time will be given
Germany after the investigation being
conducted by this government has
been completed to reply to the State
Departments request for information
concerning the attacks Mr.. Lansing
indicated that It might he necessary
for the submarine commanders to re-
turn to their bases before Germany
can furnish the information sought.
Both Secretary Lansing and Count
Won Bernsto-ff, the German ambas-
sador, authorized statements today
which were designed to remove any
misa Dprehension which might exist
regarding the policies OF either gov
eminent.
Considers Reports Improbable.
Count Won Bernstorff said.
II have asked for information from
my government because / have con-
sdered every report until now abso-
lutely improbable. on account of the
German pledges. and also on account
of the fact that I do not believe any
body at o'clock in the morning could
see a torpedo looking like a white
Ash.
THE German government has given
its promise, and the German govern
ment has always kept it's promises
Mr.. Lansing said:
Mr.. LanSing's Statement.
ct have no news l can give out in
regard to the Marina and the other
vessel in which we are interested. but
I feel that I ought to say this, and you
may quote me If you wish:
The fact that n political campaign
Is in progress will in no way vary the
practice of the department IN regard
to making a full investigation of cases
OF this sort. We shall do II. as we
always have, and with as much celebrity
as is possible.
And I would just as soon say an
other thing:
THE question has been raised as to
whether there has been any change in
policy on the part of the President or
the department in regard to submarine
warfare since the Sussex attack. and I
wish to say emphatically that there
has been no change In any particular"
The policy referred TO by Secretary
/ Lansing was was that declared in
the several notes Of the United States
to Germany on the subject of subma-
/ rine warfare, IN which 1t was declared
that warning must be given and pro-
/ vision made for the safety OF passen-
| gers and crews before merchant ship
/ is sunk
| The fact that the Marina carried a
/ A7-inch gun, and Is believed TO have
/ been previously in the admiralty SER
vice, may affect materially the de-
cision of this government
In note dated January 18 last and
delivered to the various powers. Sec
rotary Lansing said:
The placing of guns on merchant
men at the present date of submarine
warfare can be explained only on the
ground OF purpose to render mer-
chantmen superior in force to subma-
rines and to prevent warning and visit
and search by them. Any armament.
therefore, on merchant Vessel would
seem to have the character of an Of
fensive armament"
In the same nots Mr., Lansing de-
clared;
"A vessel engaged In commerce and
under a commission or orders of its
government imposing a penalty. In
pursuing and attacking enemy naval
craft possesses status tainted with
hostile purpose. which It cannot
throw aside or assume at will II
should. therefore. be considered as an
armed public vessel and receive the
treatment of warship"
| Dispatches from London today stated
that the Marina may have engaged In
admiralty work not long before she
was destroyed.
May Have Been Mine.
Another interesting phase OF tn
Marina case appealed to high authori
ties in the Navy Department. They
declared the statement Of survivors
that two torpedoes struck the Marins
appeared very significant. 1t wa,
doubted that one submarine woult
waste an extra torpedo on the vesse
and considered highly improbable thai
two submarines would attack a shiI
like the Marina. The report suggested
to them that the Marina was destroyed
, by mine.
. Navy officers doubted also that the
survivors of the Marina saw a torpedo
looking like white Ash" at 4 O'Clock
, in the morning 1t was improbable. II
, their opinion. that a torpedo coult
, have been seen at all. as the torpedo
comes under the water. and there was
In addition. rough sea- which would
, have prevented even the bubbles sem
, up by the torpedo from being visible