Evening star., 1917-04-08

The beginning Of the present Euro
! pean war gave rise to numerous inter-
national questions
Government Of of vital interest to
the government.
war Ff1soners. particularly to the
navy, and accentuated the fact that in
the organisation of the Navy Depart
ment the definite assignment OF ques-
tions relating to International law had
not been provided for. In this connec-
tion 1t Is interesting to note that sev-
eral Of the naval authorities in the
/, Office Of the judge advocate general of
the navy took q special course in In
ternattonal law at one OF the UNIVERSE
ties so that they would better be able
to cope with any situation that might
arise.
Just recently officials of this office
have urawn up certain interesting
prisoners of war. These regulations
have been made so complete in them
selves It Is said, that an officer receiv
ing telegraphic orders to establish
necessary information and authority to
carry out his orders. The administra-
tive part OF these regulations is now
complete and has been issued, The
general instructions for establishing
the camps are also ready. it is said.
but inasmuch as the amplification of
these instructions depends upon the
permanency Of the establishments GER
tain details are being withheld pend
ing the result of conferences between
representatives Of the office of the
Judge advocate general Of the navy and
the army general staff to decide
whether or not prisoners captured by
the navy will ultimately be transferred
to army prison camps Even If they
should be. 1t Is the opinion of the naval
officials that. in the light of our lat
est war experience. when the crews of
certain prizes. known at the time to be
members Of the enemy naval reserve.
were released and returned to their
| own country for lack of proper facili-
ties for OBTAINING them, the navy should
be prepared to erect at least temporary
esta blishments to accommodate all
prisoners captured by it's forces until
be prepared to receive them. Arrange
| ments to this effect have been COM
pleted, officials say, pending a decision
OF the War Department in the prem
ises.
Many questions arising out of the
present war; such as Interference with
the United States mail. attempts by
belligerents to board naval auxiliaries
the exercise of visit and search in the
United States territorial waters yfo-
ladons of radio neutrality. etc, have
J been referred time and again recently
to this Office of the Navy Department
During the study of the subject of
internment made by officials of the
they became firmly convinced that
Jurisdiction over belligerent vessels of
war visiting waters under the jurisdic-
tion of the United States properly be-
ioneed to the Navy Department, rather
than to the Treasury Department. dur
Ing the entire time of such visits, al
though at one time 1t was firmly be-
lieved that this came under the juris-
diction OF the Treasury Department
However. the question was referred to
the Treasury, which heartily approved
OF the course taken in placing the
ships under the direction of the navy.
Under agreement with the Treasury
Department the navy now has exclusive
Of war and OF controlling their move
ments and activities while in the ter
ritorial waters OF the United States. as
well as supervision over them. their
ofncers and crews in case of Intern
ment Instructions for the informa-
tion and guidance of officers on this
duty nave been approved by the Navy
Department and have been issued
Since the beginning of the European
war the problem involved in the dis
trib ut on of gold
Gold Holdings throughout the world
J., as far as the United
III A'o' States is concerned,
has been completely reversed, accord
ing to experts of the federal reserve
board who have to deal with such mat
ters. At the outbreak of the war the
board was confronted with a serious
situation in connection with European
credits. which were maturing to the ex-
tent of about $3.50, 900. 900, for which
settlement was demanded. The liquida-
tion of this indebtedness at first in
volved large shipments of gold. which
were aided by a bankers gold fund of
500, 100000. But, owing to the grow
ing volume of our exports to Europe
balances shortly began to appear in
favor of this country. These balances
have increased at an unprecedented
rate.
1t is said by officials of the reserve
board that from the beginning of the
war until the end of December, 1915
that there was a net movement of gold
into the United States of approximately
sS70. 100000, and 1t is estimated that
during the same period about $780,
100000 of securities of American origin,
including obligations of the national
government, of states. of municipal
tiles and of corporations, have been
transferred to domestic ownership
about $4,000, 100000 of securities issued
| by foreign governments and corpora
tions have been absorbed and are now
held by American financial institutions
and investors
TARY TRAINING.