White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1916-02-11
APPAM OWNERSHIP
NOW THE QUESTION
CAPTURED BRITISH SHIP TAKEN
TO UNITED STATES PORT FOR
DISPOSITION.
UNCLE SAM IN CHARGE AS YET

of This War-Germany and Eng
land Both Make Claims First
Case Of Kind on Record.
Washington. = The question of the
ownership sof the British steamship
Appam, brought into Hampton Roads
by German prize crew, may remain
an open issue until the end of the war,
with the ship, in the meantime, held
in the custody of American officials
at Newport News.
Conflicting claims on behalf Of Ger
many and England are being consid-
cred by the state department and the
neutrality board, but there has been no
indication of a decision. Officials gen.
orally are inclined to the view, how
ever, that the case must be governed
by the Prussian treaty of 1928, which
grants Prussian prizes free entry to
American ports and declares that they
may be freely carried out again at
any time by their captors to the place
expressed in their commissions" A
literal construction of that provision,
which some officials favor, would per-
NIT the Appam to remain indefinitely
at Newport News.
Provisions Violated.
That the treaty has not been con-
strued literally in the initial consider
alton Of the Appam case, however, is
evidenced, 1t is pointed out, by the
facts that the ship was searched and
that some form of legal process was
served by the customs collector to
procure discharge of the prisoners.
Both Of these things are expressly
prohibited in article 10 of the treaty.
Officials are inclined to believe that
a formal ruling by the department as
to whether the Prussian treaty or The
Hague convention of 1907 should gov
ern the case would not confirm totle
to the Appam, but simply would de-
termine the length of her stay in port.
The practical effect Of decision
would be to determine the question of
whether Great Britain would be put
to the trouble of maintaining indefi-
nitely warship patrol off the Chesa-
peake capes to prevent the escape of
the ship. Eventually German prize
court must pass upon the title, and
even after that the ultimate DISPOSE
ton of the Appam, il she remains in
port, doubtless will depend upon the
result Of the war
Appreciate U. S. Aid.
There are noexplosives on board
the captured liner Appam that would
endanger shipping in this harbor in
the event of an accidental or prema-
ture discharge.
Commander Berg expressed to, Col
lector Hamilton his appreciation for
the uniform courtesies and friendly
assistance rendered him during the
trying days by American officials
DisavowaI Only ls Lacking.
From high diplomatic quarters came
the statement Monday that Germany
believes that she has. with the excep-
ton of making an out and out disovow-
al of the Lusitania sinking, which she
considers impossible, conceded every
desire Of the United States and that
the tentative proposal materially gives
strength to the assurances already Civ
en- in the negotiations over the sink
ing of the steamship Arabic. 1t is also
claimed that the tentative proposal
covers all the fundamental issues in
volved in the conduct Of submarine
warfare In the North sea.
1t is explained that a direct dis
avowal was given for the sinking of
the Arabic because that act was in
violation of the instructions given the
submarine commanders. In the case
of the Lusitania, however, the COM
mander acted in accordance with in
structions. The general instructions
not to sink liners without warning
was given, 1t is now disclosed by high
authority, on the day after the Lusita-
mia went down. 1t was said that Ger
many withheld announcement of the
fact for strategical naval reasons
Government Responsible.
The position of Berlin officials is
said to be that the act Of the COM
mander Of a submarine can be dis
avowed should he violate, disregard or
have failed to receive instructions, but
that government can not disavow
an act which was committed in &C.
cordance with It's instructions. and for
which 1t is responsible.
No Attempt to Deny.
In the latest proposal there is no at.
tempt to deny responsibility for the
sinking of the Lusitania But Ger
many assumes liability for the Ameri-
can lives lost, offers reparation by the
payment of indemnity and assures the
United States that the killing of Amer
leans was without intent The destruc-
ton of the liner was an act of reprisal