Evening journal., 1917-11-23
White BOOK RFFUTbS
GERMAN CHARGES
No Munitions or Troops
Ever Carried on Hospital
Ships, British Assert
FLIMSY RUMORS
ARE ACCEPTED

WASHINGTON. Nov 23.--Copies Of
the British White Book. containing the
correspondence of that government
with the German government regard
ing the alleged misuse OF British hos
pital ships. were received IN Wishing
ton YESTERDAY. The document con-
tains evidence furnished by the Ger
man authorities and The British gov
ernment's comments on ii \ memor-
andum by the London Foreign ufilce
accompanies the correspondence, and,
as received at an Entente Embassy to-
day. follows,
IN replying 70 the accusations
brought forward by the German gov
| eminent. his maiesty's government de-
/ sire. above all, 10 call attention TO the
! remarkable fact that German subma-
/ rines and other warships have never
once exercised the right OF inspecting
British hospital ships, which IS giveI
90 them by Article 3 of The Hague Con
Veniion FOR the application OF the priu
I ciples Of the Geneva Convention 10 mar
itime warfare So far as can be as
ceriained. they have only once stopped
I a British hospital ship long enough q
! examine her PAPERS This occurred or
the 23d day Of February. 1917. wher
the hospital ship Dunluce Castle was
stopped by "a German submarine in the
/ Eastern Mediterranean; her paper.
were found TO be I'm order: and tho
vessel was allowed to proceed
"lt might have been expected iha
the German Government. seeing tha
they had reports in their possession
which they profess 20 regard a. relia
BILE pointing 10 the misuse Of T
hospital ships, would not have com
pletely neglected the obvious anil wei
recognized method Of Inspection for th
purpose Of verifying their susp 'ions
Instead. they have preferred 90 sppea
for support Of their charges o. con
ieciural statements OF persons wh
never had an opporiuniiy Of ascertain
ing whether there was any real fOunda
iion for their assumptions. and. ol thl
b ilimsy basis. without making any at
. tempt 90 discover the value On
, hearsay evidence which they ha col
locted or giving his Maiestys O. vern
I ment any opportunity Of reh Tin
itheir allegations. they proceeded D On
F, extreme step Of ruihlessly attack 2 IN
r noceut hospital ships engaged I'm thei
! humane task Of serving the sic an
wounded.
Germany's Charges Grouped.
, His Maiestv's Government have no'
made inquiry into the allegations cor
iained in the German memoranC r
far as they concern British no pits
ships and so FAR as the charges lad
arc not in such vague terms as q pr
clude any possibility Of invests Tin
their foundation. Generally, ih
charges group themselves under iou
J heads, viz:
! Alleged excessive Dumber Of no,
, pital ships in relation TO the Gal ipo
4 campaign.
I ,. Changes I'm the list Of no. lit
ships. with supposed intention e. d.
ceive
3. Alleged transport Of munitions.
a. Alleged transport of troops
AS 10 90 The number Of hos OH
shins employed was NOT exec siy
y. having regard 10 the number OF il
-. valids 10 be evacuated from Gallip0
. ON the contrary. the accommodation
Il on hospital ships proved 10 be inad
"A ouate 10 meet requirements. and
WHN necessary W 'NiNNNf 'ANiAAA
transports in addition for the conve
ance Of sick and wounded. The
r. transports We're. OF course. not pr
Is iected by The Hague Convention. d
J. not ny the Red Cross flag, and we
r. not fitted out os hospital ships.
Z As 10 % no rule exists und
e which a hospital ship. once notife
d must remain in hospital service Z
o the duration Of the war. 70 is perfcC
i ly true that certain ships were no
u fed as hospital ships and later
Ie were removed from the list. This "
e due 20 alterations in the requiremen
II FOR the various classes Of tonna
caused by the slnkiRgs Of ships
;. submarines and to changes in q
=, military situation.
q There is no ground for the som
I, what nebulous suggestion Of the G.
y man Government that the aim Of q
4 changes was TO produce uncertain
M and confusion in regard 10 the CHI
m acter Of the ships. and no eyiedn
Is adduced 70 show what military q
lvsntages could be gained by such &C