The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-02
LUCKY TEUTONS
Get S2,5OO,OOO
/ APPAM BULLION
Captured Ship Carried Rich
Treasure in Hold.
Question of Vessels Insurance
Involves S3,OOO,OOG.
UNCLE SAM is IN A QUANDARY
May Order German to Hike for
Native Shore.
But Gordon of British War
ships Turks Nearby.
MUCH CONFUSION IN LAWS
Whose Ship Is 1t! Is 1t Cruiser,
Liner or Pirate!
Treaty Rule Plain Passengers
Can't Be Held.
But Gordon of British War
ships Turks Nearby.
MUCH CONFUSION IN LAWS
Whose Ship Is 1t! Is 1t Cruiser,
Liner or Pirate!
Treaty Rule Plain Passengers
Can't Be Held.

london, Feb. 2.-(2 p. m-)-It IS
automatically reported here that the
Appam carried 100000 pounds ster-
ling in bullion which probably will be
claimed as a prize as bullion is con-
trsiband OF war.
PcrpICNitS regarding the question
of Insurance on the --ppam is admit
ted at IAoyds, as the case is an unpre-
ccdcntcd one. The solution of the
DuzZIc depends largely on the attitude
OF the United States government
whether the Appam is to be consld-
cred u merchantmen or "a German
s.rsiiser She is considered war loss
by the underwriters however. and 1t
is believed she will not be announced
at IIoyds as having arrived safely at
port. as would have been done II she
had completed her journey to Eng
land.
Yhe sinking of the other vessels by
the Germans means large loss to the
underwriters. 1t probably VIII amount
to sabout s3,000,0OO.
washington Feb. American gov
ernment officials were comforting to-
day over the complex situation grow
ing out of the unexpected arrival OF
the British passenger liner Appam in
Hampton Roads under the guard OF a
German prize crew. The first point
to be determined was the status or
the liner-whether she is converted
auxiliary cruiser of the German navy
ora German sea prize. If the Appam is
found to be a man of war, Lieutenant
Hans Berge, commander OF the Ger
man prize crew aboard, Will nave the
option of either interning his crew and
ship or putting to sea to run the
coFdon of British cruisers outside.
Should the Appam be declared a
prize the United States government
will face, ONE of the most novel phases
of sfneutrality that has arisen since
the beginning of the European war.
There is much confusion in the treaties
and provisions of international law on
the subject of prizes. One theory is
that title to a captured ship does not
pass until the prize court has acted.
May Have to Sink Her.
State department officials indicated
today that if the Appam finally is held
to be a prize, the Observation-Disclosures
treaty of 1S2S is more likely to govern
the case than is The Hague conven-
ton. This would mean that the APP
pam would be turned ever to her Ger
man captOrs, and in that case some
German officials expressed the view
that the prize crew, rather than let
her fall back into the hands of the
British, as would seem inevitable if
she left port, might take the ship to
the three mile limit and sink her. In
case she is held to have become Ger
man fleet auxiliary, she will have the
chOice of leaving port after a certain
time for supplies or repairs or -ntern-
ing sfor the war, as have the Prinz
Eitel Friedrich and the Kronprinz
Wilhelm.
The neutrality board met today to
consider the case with all the treaty
provisions bearing on it. Secretary
Lansing also considered the case.
Sir Cecil Spring Rice, British am
bassador today asked Secretary Lam
srf-s Cor release of the Appam and
return to British owners, under Ar
ticie 81 of The Hague convention,
which the British authorities claim
L.. 41s.I
can treaty. The secretary took the
ambassadors argument under consid-
Grafton.
Moewc Didn't Capture Her.
Collector Hamilton's report which
was placed before the neutrality board
today, says Lieutenant Berge made no
request for time to make repairs or for
amy coal or provisions Leyond such
food as was necessary for the crew
and prisoners aboard for IL short time.
An interesting feature of Collector
Hamilton's report is that he does not
believe the Appam was captured by
the German merchantmen Moewe. He
thinks some other crmed merchant
ship made the capture and sank the
seven merchantmen off the west AT
rican coast. He reported that Lieu
tenant Berge would not reveal the
name of the ship, but said it was
clear that a submarine was not re-
sposible for the captures.
One factor which must be weighed
DNh the neutrality DOdTu Is Ii3l several
of the III g'ishmen on the Appam
were gun tenders on merchantmen
which fought the unknown commerce
raider before they submitted. Wheth-
er+they must be released is one of the
state deuartment's problems
Cite Hague Treaty.
The commonly accepted American
naval view is that the title passes i'm
mediately after the capture is made
Iflthe latter opinion is accepted and
there were no new developments Of
ficials would act under Article 81 of
The Hague convention. This would
Involve a notice to Lieutenant Berge to
leave Hampton Roads as soon as he
could provision his ship and make her
seaworthy Failure to leave would
oblige the port authorities to inferno
the German prize. crew and turn the
ship over to the nearest British consul.
a declaration made by Lieutenant
Berge to Collector + milton of the
rort OF Norfolk was on its way to
ilpshington today. 1t was expected &C
clear up conflicting statements re-
g5H'ding the claim of the German COM
mAnder Press reports from Nor
folk stated that Lieutenant Berge de
clares that the captor may bring "A
captured vessel into neutral port tc