The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-07-10
new SUBMARINE {
NOT WAR SHIP
United States Will Consider
German Visitor as a
Peaceful Mer-
chantman.
CARRIES NO ToRPEDoEs
Complications Might Arise II
American Was On Board
and Boat Was A.
tackled.
CARRIES NO ToRPEDoEs
[By ]. p. Yoder, United Press staff
COrreSpOndent

Correspondent
WASHINGTON, July To- The
twenty-four hour rule which applies
to belligerent ships of war or to
ships regarded as auxiliartes. will not
enter into the case Of the great Ger
man submarine liner Deutschland.
This was the one point on which
oh1cials were today unanimous in
| their opinions as to the attitude Of
Of the problems which arose when
the Deutschland entered American
waters, makes it necessary, officials
said, to have ample time in which to
study the numerous and complicated
phases Of the case.
Officially the state department Will
not take cognizance of the Deutsch-
lands arrival until the treasury de-
partment has made detailed report
of its investigations. If these inves-
legations prove the boat to be mer-
chantman, there will be no reason
why any communication which Cap
tain Koenig is reported to be carry
ing from the kaiser to President Will
son could not be presented at the
white house.
According 70 numerous statements
by Secretary Of State Lansing, the
case OF the big under sea liner will
be studied as an individual case. as
have the cases Of various Italian and
French commerce carrying ships that
have entered American rorts since
the war began, with guns aboard.
Under these rulings the merchant
men have been permitted to come
and go with guns as large as six inch
pieces aboard. All that was neces-
sary in these cases was for the cap
tain to give assurances that such
armament was mounted for defense
only. The fact that the Deutschland
is submarine, officials declared to-
day, and not a surface boat, makes
no difference as to her character.
Ownership of the boat will have to be
established. It was admitted that per-
picking complications would exist
should 1t be proven that the Germa an
government is part owner of the vcS-
sci. Absence of torpedo tubes, soma
officials believed, would be taken a.
strong proof of the ships peaceful
character.
One ruling by Secretary Lansing.
however, seems certain oe at least
partial amendment.
Discussing the line Of demarcat!on
between offensive and defensive bv
an armed merClanLman, ne Salu SuSI
merchantm,n n could open fire at sight
upon a submarine that appeared to no
pursuing her.
The captain Of merchantmen, the
secretary declared, in such cases is
warranted in acting upon the assump-
ton that the submarines action is
offensive.
This ruling was predicted solely on
the theory that all U boats were war
boats. Need for new ruling, Off
cials admitted. is obvious with U
boats now appearing as passenger
and cargo carriers. In this connec-
tion, possibility Of serious complica-
tions with allied governments there
fore arises. Such possibilities Would
loom large should an American citi-
zen engage return passage on the
Deutschland and the boat be attacked.
Not a War Ship.
Thy ]. P. Yoder, United Press Staff
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, July 10-The Ger
man super submersible Deutchsland
is not a war ship. She is not even
an armed merchantmen. She has no
s,,ns or armament of any kind aboard
her.
This was the report made to the
treasury department shortly before
noon by the customs officials VINO