Evening star., 1939-09-12
u. 5. Studying Report
Germans Will Fire on
Ships Failing 10 Halt
Also Soon Statement
Brituin Hos Seized
Cargo Of Resin
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
State Department officials studied
IN silence today a report that a
German submarine commander had
served notice that all American
ships which disregarded commands
to halt would be fired on.
They considered as we'll a state
ment that Great Britain had seized
as contraband a cargo Of resin con-
signed to Hamburg, Germany, on
an American vessel.
Officials declined any immediate
comment on these reported Incl
dents, which recalled to some per-
sons the shipping troubles that kept
this country's diplomats busy writ
ing notes and protests during the
early years of the World War.
The officials indicated there would
be no comment until reports were
received from American Embassies
in the countries involved.
Capt. N. Nicolson, executive vice
president Of the Waterman Steam
ship Corp, reported that its steamer
Wacosta had been halted Saturday
for three hours off the Irish Coast
by a German submarine. After a
thorough search, the ship was per-
mitted to proceed on her voyage
from Glasgow to New York, he
added.
Warning Given to U. S. Ships.
Capt. Nicolson said the ships
master, Capt. G. Self, cabled that
the submarine commander warned
him American ships would be fired
on in the future If they disregarded
orders to halt.
Informed quarters in Berlin, mean
while, reported that Germany would
sink any ship attempting to carry
to Great Britain any of the articles
on the British contraband list.
The British list, issued last week,
included virtually all war materials
on a list of absolute contraband.'
Food and clothing were listed as
conditional contraband"
Experts on international law
pointed out that the British list
was almost word for word the list
issued by the United States when
it went to war in 1917.
They said a belligerent had a
legal right to sink a neutral vessel
carrying absolute contraband If
the craft carried conditional contra
band a belligerent had no right
to sink it, they added, but might
destroy or seize the cargo. In such
a case, international law requires
that cargo must be paid for by the
country destroying or taking it.
Must Give Crew Warning.
The expert said that before ship
carrying contraband could be sunk
legally, the enemy vessel must give
the crew time to abandon ship.
The report from Germany said
submarines from that country would
proceed strictly according to inter-
nationally accepted rules.
1t was the Columbia Naval Stores
Co.. Pensacola, Fla, which reported
that Britain had seized as CONTRA
band 600 barrels of resin consigned
to Hamburg aboard another Water
man ship. the Warrior
Archie S. Mills. manager of the
Columbia Co., said he believed the
cargo was covered by insurance.
The Warrior sailed from the United
States about month ago for United
Kingdom and German ports via
Mobile.
The German press directed its
attention especially to the British
blockade intentions. According to
Nachtausgabe, Germany during the
next ensuing days will publish her
own contraband list, placing food
stuffs thereon because of Britain's
similar action
In other words the paper con-
tinued, I'VE will declare that we will
attempt with all means at our dis
posal to prevent importation of es-
Sential goods and foods into Eng
land even by way of neutral states.
In no other way can the flagrant
violation of the law which England
commits by pressure upon neutrals
be combatted."