Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-24
Action on Much Wanted
Point Not Likely to
Be Taken.
ALLIES DIVIDED
OVER HUN SHIPS
British. American Sentiment in Favor
Of Sinking Captured Vessels Prob
ably Will Be Adopted Against Pro-
tests of France and ltaiy-German
Vessels Useless For Cargo Purposes
Naval Experts Declare
TBy the Associated Press.l


Paris. Feb. 2i.-Present indications
are that nothing regarding the re-
sponsibility for the war, Nbeyond the
declaration of general principles, Will
be included in the preliminary treaty
Of peace. The special commission con-
sidoring the liability Of either govern
ments or individuals to punishment
has heard arguments on every side or
the problem from experts on interna-
tional law, but it is gathered that the
only result that can be expected In
time for incorporation in TIN peace
treaty is an expression of opinion on
the general principles that max pc
applied to the cases SO far considered.
Split over Hun Ships.
While the supreme council has not
discussed the disposition of sur
rendered German warships. the naval
experts of the council have studied
the subject. British and American Off
GERS agreeing that the proper solution
of the question will be to sink them in
deep water French and Italian Off
GERS do not take this view, and if the
experts do not soon reach an agree
ment the matter may be taken Up
directly by the supreme war council.
The British navy has captured the
greater number of German vessels
taken during the war and the British
delegates feel they have a greater IN
terest in the determination of the
question. and they have the weight OF
the opinion of American experts with
them. There are seventy-four Ger
man warships aggregating half a
million tons. or nSestimated sbnildins
cost of 100000. 900, at Scapa flow.
These naval vessels can not be used
properly in commerce. as they are too
heavily engined, and have no cargo
space. a fact which has been proved
1t has also been demonstrated by
American wreckers that naval vessels
can not be broken up at a profit.
Machinery Unsuted.
The Italian government claims &c
have broken up the famous old battle
ship Due!lo at profit, but no one else
has been able to do as well. The tur
rets and side armor plates could not
be utilized excepting at great expense,
and even the boilers and engines would
be unsuitable for commerce. 1t is
pointed out that it would be possible
to detach the navigating instruments
and much brass work, which would be
done in any case, but the recommends
ton of British and American experts
is that the hulls should be sunk.
Reasons For Destruction,
One naval expert Of the peace com
mission said today there were i'm
portant naval reasons for complete
destruction of the German ships. IT
has been suggested that the ships be
distributed among the entente powers
in proportion ITO the maratime losses
sustained by each. On that basis the
small. Then, he said, the distribution
might involve disagreements and raise
had feelings between the pbwers, and
also provoke an enlargement Of rival
building programs at great expense.
At the same time sthe German ships
would not fit into any of the entente
navies.
When the question Of the disposition
Of the surrendered German warships
first came up in December the Ameri- :
can delegation to the peace conference
was represented in Paris dispatches as
In favor of sinking the vessel, and al
hearing before the house committee
on naval affairs early in January Rear
Admiral Rodlnan, who commanded the
Americn fleet in the north sea during
the war, advocated this method Of dis
posing Of the capital ships. President
Wilson's attitude on the question,
however. was declared in Washington
to be against the sinking Of the Ger
man ships and Secretary Daniels ex-
pressed himself as personally opposed
to such course.