Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1916 — ENGLAND’S BOAT, RICE DECLARES [ARTICLE]

ENGLAND’S BOAT, RICE DECLARES

Captured Ship Wil] Likely Become Proper of Germany—British s Minister Asks for Appam. Washington, Feb. 4.—ln the name of the British owners of the steamship Appam, Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the British ambassador, today lodged with the state department a formal request that the ship be turned over to the British consul under the terms of the Hague convention. Notice also was served that it would be in violation of international law if the United States permitted the German prize commander of the Appam either to increase the efficiency of that ship; add to her offensive power or recruit his crew. Lieutenant Berg has only twenty-two men in his prize crew at present, a number insufficient to navigate a ship as large as the Appam, a compliance with the British suggestion only on the latter point would effectually prevent the departure of the Appam from Newport News. Although the British government • did not finally ’ ratify tht Hague treaty governing the conduct of neutrals in maritime warfare, it is held that most of that convention and especially the article under which the release of the Appam is demanded is only’a crystalliaztion of principles of international law in existence before fihe conventions were drawn and generally accepted since.