Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-18
u. S. to Hold Reich to PIedqe
On Refugee Transport Despite
Warning on Mines in Course
American Leeion's
Route Dangerous,
Berlin Declares
By BLAIR BOLLES.

Atlantic crossing of the Army trans
port American Legion, now on the
high seas carrying nearly 900
stranded Americans home from
Northern Europe, has been fatty
rejected by the United States,
State Department officials said with
complete authority last night.
Crown Princess Martha of Norway
and Mrs. J. Borden Hartman, Amer
lean Minister to Norway, are among
the American Legion passengers
The ship has crew of 225, under
Capt. B. E. forming.
The officials said the United
States holds Germany as well as
the other belligerent governments
to their earlier assurances that pre-
cautionary measures would be taken
by both sides in the European war
to prevent attack by their armed
forces on the American Legion dur
ing it's trip to New York from Pet
samo, Arctic port in Finland.
The Berlin radio announced yes.
self absolved from all responsibility
for the American Legion because in
the German view it Is taking a
dangerous course.
No Comment on Blockade.
The Berlin broadcast prompted
the State Department to make avail
able to correspondents informally
the background of the diplomatic
arrangements involved in the voy-
age which the American Legion be-
gan Friday night. However. the
Department took no cognizance pub-
licly in any way of two other Euro
pean developments affecting Amer
lean interests in some degree.
The first was the German an
nouncement that it is conducting a
total blockade of the British Isles
within certain exactly prescribed
limits.
The second was the British Ad-
miralty announcement that the Bay
of Biscay, being used by American
freighters under Neutrality Act pro-
visions which allow trade with
Spain and Portugal, is an area dan
eerous to all navigation.
Merely Formal Announcement.
The German blockade announce
ment here was regarded as reflect
ing a Berlin desire to get the legal
istic benefits which 60 with formal
announcement. The blockade by
Germany has been in effect for
many months. It was pointed out
that the announcement has no re-
lation to the unrestricted submarine
warfare declared by Germany in
1917, a step that played an impor-
tant part in our entrance into the
World War.
AS for the American Legion, the
United States on August asked
assurances of all belligerent govern
ments respecting the vessels safety.
The assurances were received here
well in advance of the date set for
the ships departure, August Is. The
transport is plainly marked. Ameri-
can flags are painted on her decks,
her sides and her stern. Floodlights
play on these flags at night.
No Other Safe Course.
1t was learned that the American
Legion was given orders to sail on
schedule on the advice of Admiral
erations, and the members of the
War Department general staff,
headed by Gen. George C. Marshall.
The counsel of these men was sought
by the State Department because
the ship is an Army transport OPP
Grated now as a naval vessel. The
low supplies of food aboard ship
was a factor in the decision.
The State Department put the
problem of sailing up to the War
and Navy Departments upon the re-
ceipt from Berlin of notice that
Germany wished to modify her first
assurances. The Germans held that
the course outlined for the ship was
through mined area. This Gov
eminent could not accept the Ger
man request because it felt that
from navigators' point of view,
no other safe course existed. 1t is
understood that Germany recon-
mended a course north of Iceland.
Route in Danger Zone.
Although the State Department
here withheld all information about
the course set on the ground this was
military secret, foreign advices dis
closed that the American Legion is
sailing on route that takes it be-
tween Cape Wrath, at the north
western tip of Scotland, and the tiny
British island of Roma This is the
danger area which the Berlin radio
referred to yesterday in announcing
an end to Germany's responsibility
for the American Legion.
The predetermined course is in
the zone of risk lying within the
German blockade area. as set forth
In the Berlin blockade announce
ment However. it was stated here
(See AMERICAN LEGION, AID