Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-10-13
AMERICAN PORTS
OPEN TO U-BOATs
State Department Announces
Decision at Washington.
RULES AGAINST THE ALLIES
Secretary Lansing VIII Meet Ambassa-
dor Gerard at the Summer White
House in Conference With
the President.

Washington, Oct. 1.-THE United
States has refused to accept the con-
tention of the entente allies urging that
neutrals deny the use of their harbors
to all submarines, whether merchant
men or warships, Counselor Polk of
the state department announced.
The allied governments in a memo
randum to neutral powers called at
tention to "the grave danger incurred
by neutral submarines in the nayiga-
ton of regions frequented by belliger-
ent submarine" Counselor Polk an
nounced the departments position, but
refused to discuss the reasons for it.
The American reply will not be made
public before the return of Secretary
Lansing from the summer White
House.
Question of Claims Raised.
The claim of the allies that subma-
rines are outlaws, as the note cabled
from London shows, brought up the
question of whether the American gov
sulring from the call of the German
submarine U-53 at Newport before it
started on it's spectacular raid against
commerce. Under the Interpretation
of the allies, the position may be TAX
en- that Newport was made the base
for operations which officials estimate
already have caused at least $6,000,000
damage to allied shipping and trade.
Any attempt to collect damage, how
ever, would probably be most vigorous
ly opposed by this government, which
holds that warship has right to en-
ter neutral harbor, and that the u
So in no way attempted to make New
port a base.
Secretary Lansing expects to meet
Ambassador Gerard at the summer
White House, and at the conference
with the president new light of vital
importance will be thrown on the in
ternal situation in Germany by Mr..
Gerard.
Submarine activities near American
shores are regarded as secondary to
the possible German policy that sent
out the U-53. officials realize that
unlimited possibilities for develop
ments result from the transfer of Ger
man undersea activities to Americas
shores, but as yet these are entirely
eventualities of destruction of Ameri-
can export trade in a purely legal way
rather than actual violations of inter-
national law.
Plans Told In Note.
New York, Oct. 1.-THE letter
which Lieut.. Hans Rose of the U-53
sent to the German ambassador from
Nantucket last Saturday contained
brief notes from the German foreign
office outlining Germany's present at
titude on the submarine issue.
This was learned before from an alb
solutely trustworthy source in imme-
date touch with the central powers
embassies.
The U-53 was sent speeding across
the Atlantic in a semirace with the
Frederik VIII for the purpose of inn
parting TO the German ambassador, be-
fore Mr.. Gerard's arrival here, just
where the German government stands
on the submarine issue now.
In substance, the message instructed
to the U-boat commander contains ex-
actly what the German foreign office
asked Ambassador Gerard to report
to President Wilson. 1t is resume of
the declaration given to Ambassador
Gerard shortly before he left Berlin
by the German chancellor, the foreign
minister and the undersecretary of
state for foreign affairs.
Direct cable connection with Count
Won Bernstorff being impossible, the
expedient of the U-boat was chosen.
1t was imperative for the German am
bassador to know accurately the Amer
lean diplomats mission, In order to be
able to carry out his governments poll
cies.
Last Report of U-Boat.
New York, Oct. 1.-THE last report
ed position of the U-53 was given by
George Barbetas, chief officer of the
Greek liner PATHS, at 1856 miles due
east of Fire island, ut five o'clock Mon
day morning. The boat was floating
on the surface, engines stopped. sig
nally in Morse code. Barbetas saws he
believes the signals were for the
mother ship.