Evening star. [volume], June 10, 1915, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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WEATH liK.
Fair ton.sht an I T-** i?!a>": warmer Fri- j
day; !i??lit northerly wimJs.
Temperature past twenty-four hours: ,
flitch, 7*. ;it I p.m. yesterday: low,
at a.m. today.
Fur full report see ^>age 20.
( IiOSIXG NEW IORK STOCKS PAGE 20.
jFrom Press to Home
Within the Hour"
Ijmmt Weck'a Sworn Stt Circulation?
Dally Avrrtfr, W.7S3; Snatay. S2.7M.
No. 19,979.
WASHINGTON, D. THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1915-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES.
ONE CENT.
U. S. NOTE IS NOT AN ULTIMATUM;
BRYAN ROUSES FRIENDS AND FOES
NOTE TO GERMANY
MAKES SOLE ISSUE
OF SAEEIT AT SEA
JVIot Ultimatum. But Firm De
mand That Rights Shall
Be Respected.
ALL OTHER CONTENTIONS
RELEGATED TO THE REAR
president and His Advisers Confident
Country Will Give Its Ap
proval to Document. ?
NOTICE TO ALL THE WORLD
Declaration of American Policy Ex
pected to Have Lasting Influence
on International
Helations.
'I he keynote of President Wil
son's second note to Germany,
which will become public tomor
row, is an earnest insistence that
Germany adhere to the interna
tional rules of war at sea and
give ample assurance of the safe
ty of the lives of American citi
zens traveling on unarmed pas
senger vessels.
This is positively known today
to be the real meat of the impor
tant document that has caused
such a furore throughout the
world because of the action of
Secretary Bryan in retiring from
the cabinet and the expectation
that the contents will vigorously
uphold Americanism and Ameri
can citizens.
Note Wot an Ultimatum.
It is positively known also that the
t,ote will not be an ultimatum, al
though it will insist very strongly
that Germany make her attitude
Vnown as promptly as possible re
garding her intentions in the future as
to submarine attacks upon unarmed
passenger ships.
The whole note revolves around the
central idea that existing international
laws give American citizens the right
to believe that their lives will not be
sacrificed at sea when they are travel
ing on peaceful missions of pleasure
or business. All the traditions of this
country, all the sentiment of her peo
ple. demand an adherence of these
rights, and the President intimates
that he believes Germany will accept
these views In the interest of humanity
generally.
Tone Friendly, But Firm.
The wording of the note will be as
diplomatically friendly as was the first
on*, but friendliness ami firmness will
travel hand in hand, and the adminis
tration sincerely hbpes that the tone
of friendliness will not be mistaken
end the firmness overlooked.
The President does not close the door
to further correspondence on the sub
ject. but it is not left as wide open as
the advocates of peace-at-any-price
Vould wish, and Germany is made to
Understand that there Is an end to the
patience of the administration and the
people of this country.
Other Issues Brushed Aside.
Ail issues as to whether the JLusitania
W?s armed arc brushed aside, and the
fitt^ntlon of the German imperial gov
ernment is sharply focused upon the
central points?playing the game of
Var at sea according to the rules, and
the imperative necessity that American
liv*8 must not be sacrificed by sub
marines or any other method of mod
ern days. That's all the President cares
to discuss now and that's about all he
Wants Germany to discuss. Any de
parture from these simple propositions
Will be regarded as Ignoring the solemn
Warning of the United States as to a
"strict accountability" or an intention
to delay an answer while ?h*- things
Complained of go on without stop.
Tli#*re are other views in the note, but
ail of r hem p ale into insignificance
compared to these. The note is for the
World at large an well as Germany, an
??xp*ession of the purpose of the United
fit a tee to uphold humanity and inter
national justice, no matter what na
tion seeks to trample upon them. It is
practically a declaration of principles
Upon which this country proposes to
rest its case, a manifesto that may in
fluence the future for years to come.
As in the first note, it appeals to rea-i
son, wherever It exists, but solemnly'
conveys the warning that the great
people of this great nation ?*re not
vilhng to see their rights at sea tram
pied upon and disregarded by any bel
ligerent power.
Expect Support of Country.
The President and his friends are con
fident that the note will have the vir
tually unanimous support of the peo
ple of the country who are not preju
diced by racial or other reasons, and
if he has this unprejudiced backing it
%r:l! be all the reward he wishes.
it became known today that just be
fcre '.he note was forwarded to lieriin
It was shown to former Secretary
j-tryau by Acting Secretary Lansing at
the personal direction of President Wil
pon Some slight changes had been
pnad* in the note and the President
Wanted Mr. Bryan to see it in its final
form.
Pending the publication of the note
tomorrow morning officials would not
(Continued on Second Page.)
\
1. BRYAN TO GIVE
A NEW STATEMENT
Plans to Issue It Coincident
With Publication of Note
to Germany.
Former Secretary Bryan is preparing
another statement of his attitude on
the situation between the United States
and Germany, which he intends to issue
for publication coincident with the ap
pearance of the text of the United
States note in tomorrow morning's
newspapers.
>Ir. Bryan spent a quiet day at home,
and simultaneously there was much
discussion today of the effect of his
action in leaving the cabinet upon the
political situation in Nebraska, with
! which he is so closely identified.
During the last two years. Mr. Bryan
has been the dispenser of patronage in
Nebraska. Senator Hitchcock, the
democratic senator from that state,
has been at daggers drawn with Mr.
Bryan, and in consequence, with the
administration. What is to be the ef
fect of Mr. Bryan's withdrawal upon
Senator Hitchcock's attitude toward
the administration? the politicians now
are asking.
May Enter Senate Race.
It has been intimated more than once
that Mr. Bryan, in the event of his
leaving the cabinet, would be a candi
date for the Senate in opposition to
Senator Hitchcock, who comes up for
re-election next year, provided, of
course, Mr. Bryan was not a candidate
for the presidential nomination.
j Five years ago Mr. Bryan threatened
to push Senator Hitchcock to one
I side and move into the Senate himself.
' But Senator Hitchcock refused to be
| pushed aside and succeeded in obtain
I in>c the nomination to the Senate
despite Mr. Bryan, and was elected.
If Mr. Bryan should decide to seek the
nomination to the Senate next year
will Senator Hitchcock have the back
] ing of the administration against Mr.
Bryan?
' Senator Hitchcock has shown himself
independent in the Senate. He has
locked horns with the administration
in the last two years on a number of
important matters that have come up
I for action in the Senate. Will the ad
j ministration now have him as a stanch
| supporter in the Senate?
Opposed Wilson Program.
Senator Hitchcock had his own views
upon the banking and currency act
and refused to accept the House bill
as demanded by the administration.
He was Instrumental, along with other
senators, ir preventing the confirma
tion of Thomas D. Jones of Chicago, a
i director of the International Harvester
Company, who was appointed by the
President a member of the federal re
serve board. Mr. Jones finally asked to
have his name withdrawn because of
the opposition to him in the senate.
Also Senator Hitchcock was one of the
democratic senators who aided in pre
venting the passage of the adminis
tration ship purchase bill at ? last
session of Congress.
With Mr. Bryan out of the way, it
seems reasonable to suppose that Sen
ator Hitchcock will have the distri
bution of federal patronage jn his
state, it was said.
Senator Hitchcock at the last session
j of Congress took a strong stand
against the permission of shipments of
arms and ammunition from i,,js coun_
try to the belligerent nations abroad.
He Introduced in the Senate a Joint
resolution prohibiting th^ export of
such arms and ammunition and spoke
in its support.
Discussed Bryan Note.
Pdesident Wilson, it became known
today, did not see Mr. Bryan's state
ment yesterday before t was made
public, but knew of the two cardinal
points upon which It dwelt. Mr. Bryan
and the President discussed them at
their farewell talk without altering
their respective opinions.
"I believe you are wrong and that I
can convince you of It." Mr Bryan is
quoted as having said with a smile, in
his farewell Interview with the Presi
dent yesterday. He to!?l Mj*. Wilson he
believed he oould be of service In the
country by obtaining an expression of
the peaceful desires of the nation and
help to prevent war.
The texts of the letters which passed
between President Wilson and Secre
tary Bryan over the latter*s resignation
have been cabled in full to all the
American embassies and legations in
j the belligerent <-ount.ries, so they might
be in position to answer inquiries,
i Mr. Bryan told several persons that
{he had felt from the day the American
citizen Thresher was killed on the
I British ship Falaba that Americans had
j no business traversing thj* war zone
on belligerent ships, it was his view
I Mia? did not have the same
I rights before the law as he would
I (Continued on Second
TODAY'S DEVELOPMENTS
IN GEEMAN SITUATION
President Wilson's note, to be
mnde public tomorrow morning,
revolves around the central idea
tbat existing; International laws
give t nlted States citizens the
right to believe their lives will
not be sacrificed at sea, but the
note In not an ultimatum.
Officials deem it incredible that
former Secretary Bryan should
have forestalled the President's
note in statement of yesterday.
Mr. Bryan Intends to issue an
other statement for publication
tomorrow morning; at the time
the note to Germany fis published.
Senator Hoke Smith issues a
statement emphasizing the nec
essity for the maintenance of
peace with Germany, his views
conforming; with those expressed
in .Mr. Bryan's statement of yes
terday.
Germany has sent a note to the
I nlted States In reference to the
I sinking; of the American sailing
ship William P. Frye by the
I Prlnz Kitel Frlederlch in which
(.ermany makes the far-reaching
claim of a right to destroy any
American vessel carrying con
traband, while agreeing to pay
damages for the act.
Amazed Politicians Bitterly
Decry Attempt to Forestall
President's Note.
BELIEVE EX-SECRETARY
IN 'WRETCHED BAD TASTE'
Some Persons Even Use the Word
"Treachery" in Discussing
I the Sensation.
feae no labor opposition
Administration Friends Do Not
Think Unions Will Join Nebras
kan's Faction?Watch German
American Newspapers' Attitude.
Hardly anything was talked
j about in Washington last night
and today but the cabinet resig
nation, Mr. Bryan's statement of
yesterday afternoon furnishing an
additional topic. Administration
officials, politicians of all parties
and the great army of lay-poli
ticians in this town were amazed
at the tenor of the pronuncia
mento and the circumstances of
its issue.
To officials it seemed incredible
that Mr. Bryan should have fore
stalled the President's note to
Germany by disclosing and criti
cising its purport in advance of
its publication, taking advantage
of his knowledge of its contents
gained in his official capacity as
Secretary of State. No official
utterance from the administration
was made upon this feature, but
there was bitter private comment
upon it.
Politicians saw in the Htaternent in
tention upon Mr. Bryan s part
reach upon the President, an attempt
attract public attention and enlist
sympathy tohi. side before the Presl
fiAnt-H Hide could be presented. Mr
Brvan's closing: sentence fairly leaped
Prom the type and struck every one
f? 7 he eve J "but as a private citizen
. '.free JJ ,jrKe both of these propo
sitions and to call public attention to
these remedies in the hope of securing
Huf'li'an expression of public sentiment
? 'ill HiiDtiort the President in em
Mnvini ?hese if in the future he finds
it consistent with his sense of duty to I
favor them."
Expect Fight by Bryan.
But one Inference was drawn from j
that declaration, namely, that Mr. .
Bryan proposes t otakf the Chautauqua
circuit and kindle a backfire, against
the administration No other construc
tion seemed possible; he Is to appeal to
the people against the united adminis
tration of the government and the
head of the democratic parly.
But what further astonished officials
anil politicians was his assumption that
the 1'resident's policy must necessarily
lead to war. with his own as the only
path to peace. He Rave the President
credit for good Intentions in the direc
tion of preserving peace, but set his
judgment of the result agajinst that of
the President and nine of his former
colleagues in the cabinet, thereupon
proceeding to appeal to the people be
fore the logic of the others is pre
sented for public consideration.
In the comments upon his action
heard about town today from all sorts .
and conditions of men the expressions
varied all the way from 'wretched
bad taste" to such a severe word as
"treachery " There was widespread
disappointment that the President had
not made public the note to (Jermany
so that the official document could be
read with the personal pronuncla
inento. 4 . . .. .
Home interest was manifested by the
politicians in the tone of the German
newspapers published in the I nited
States, telegraphed summaries indicat
ing rather general support of Mr.
Bryan's stand. It will be recalled that
the German-American press opposed
him in 1S96, the German-American pop
ulation in this country favoring sound
money. There was further speculation
as to how the German-Americans will
reconcile bis radical views favoring
prohibition, in case h*? makes an ap
peal for German-American support.
Bryan to Build Faction.
Ail these things are being considered |
by the politicians as the conviction
grows, based upon deductions from Mr. !
Bryan's statement, that he in intent
upon building up a faction in this coun
try in. support of himself as against
the President.
President Wilson has some pretty
good politicians in his own camp, and
they have been taking stopk of the
situation in the past forty-eight hours.
They say that while Mr. Bryan's resig
nation has unquestionably presented
an awkward situation politically and
a dangerous one internationally, there
is every prospect of the international
danger being removed and political
damage averted, and that politically
the situation will work itself out in
natural order following the solving of
the International problem.
In the first place, men close to the
President do not believe the note to
Germany will lead to war, but that on
the contrary it will clear the atmos
phere bv giving Germany a better un
derstanding of the position of the
United States government and lead to
negotiations which will end in a peace
ful settlement. In that event, confi
dently expected, they can not see where
i Mr. Bryan will have any fround to
Mr. Bryan's Seventh Private Secretary, just appointed: "I wonder what I was begun for.
when I so soon was done for."
stand upon nor any issue around
which to rally a following.
And if wonBe comes to worse and
Germany takes the aggressive against
the United States, it is impossible for
them to perceive any faction in the
United States except of negligible ac
count standing out against the most
vigorous defensive policy. In point of
fact, the politicians of the President's
group of sympathizers do not see
wherein Mr. Bryan stands to make any
political capital at all out of his sen
sational act in dismounting in the
middle of the stream.
No Fear of Labor Opposition.
Jt Is said that the administration is
not at all affrighted by the current re
ports that a movement is afoot to rally
and set aside organized and union
j labor Into a party of opposition to a
| strong American policy, for it is not
| understandable how distinction can be
made-among patriotic Americans be
cause they belong to labor unions any
more than because they are members
of a medical society or of a bar asso
ciation.
The efforts of Representative Buchan
an of Illinois, now east upon a mission,
it is said, to perfect such an organiza
tion among the unions, is being follow
ed with more curiosity than anxiety by
the administration.
DE WET PLEADS GUILTY
TO CHARGE OF SEDITION
LONDON, June'10.?Gen. Christian De
Wet, <me of the leaders of the South
African rebellion against Great Britain,
pleaded not guilty to a charge of high
treason, but guilty to a charge of sedi
tion. at the opening yesterday of his
trial tit Bloemfontein, says a dispatch
to the Reuter Telegram Company.
The indictment against him is a long
r?ne. covering alleged rebellious acts
and seditious utterances. .Attorney
General De Gager is prosecuting the
case and three judges are sitting.
Gen. De Wet was captured December
1, 1914, on a farm at Waterburg, Brit
ish Bechuanaland, whither he had been
pursued by a motor car brigade.
The Market Place
Every family in Washing
ton necessarily buys some
thing every day. It is the
custom of the majority of
families to depend upon The
Star for news of all that is
newest, best and cheapest in
the stores.
The people know that The
Star is the market place,
the heart and center of such
information. The mer
chants know that the surest
way to present their goods
to the greatest number of
possible buyers is through'
The Star, thus, buying and
selling goes on in the most
economic way,
Yesterday's Advertising
Local Display
LINES.
The Evening Star.... 14,927
The 2nd Newspaper. .. 7,376
Tke 3rd Newspaper. .. 4,400
The 4th Newspaper. .. 4,384
The reason that The Star
is the great market place for
advertised goods is because
The Star has more circula
tion in the homes than the
three other papers com
bined.
GERMANS RETREAT
BEFORE CZAR'S MEN
I ? '
|
Invaders of Baltic Provinces
Forced to Give Way Be
fore Russians.
HARD STRUGGLE GOES ON
AT CENTER IN GALICIA
Stanislau Occupied, Gen. von Linsin
gen Seeks to Cut Communica
tions of Enemy's Armies.
I-rONDON, June 10.?The official an
nouncement from German army head
Quarters today states the German
forces which invaded the Baltic prov
inces of Russia have retreated. The
statement says that the German wing
southeast of Shavli has withdrawn to
the south toward the Beisagola-Zogi
nie line. Russians captured number
2,250.
Further evidences of the Stubborn op
position which the Austro-Germans are
said to be meeting: near the center of
the line in Galicia are declared here to
exist in the statement from Petrograd
that 2,000 Austro-German prisoners
have been taken * in a series of counter
attacks near Przemysl.
Battles Still Going On.
South of the Niemen river, Germans
claim to have taken 3,020 Russian pris
oners. East of Stanislau and at Kale
dinz, battles and pursuit of the enemy
continues, according to Berlin.
Gen. von Linsingen has advanced over
the Dniester and occupied Stanislau, an
important railroad center, it is further
declared. His purpose is declared to
be the cutting of communications to
the Russian armies in Bukowina and
Galicia.
According to Russian reports, the
Austro-German offensive In southeast
Galicia has not been able to cross the
River Dniester at any point other than
Zurawana, which is forty miles from
I-emberg, and which they reached last
Sunday.
French Now Hold Village.
Fierce fighting goes on at many points
in the western arena.
The French claim and Berlin admits
that the French now are in occupation
of the entire village of Neuville St.
Vaast, while only a fraction of "The
Labyrinth" is left in German hands.
The German official statement of to
day admits the French have gained
advantages near Souchez. North of Les
Mesnil a trench taken by the Germans
has been maintained, it is declared,
despite a fierce night attack by the
French.
Joffre Planned Defense.
A series of documents, principally or
ders Issued by Gen. Joffre, showing
how preparations were made for the
battle of the Marne, is published by the
Paris Bulletin Des Armees. These pa
pers seem to establish that Gen. Jof
fre's object from August 25, the date
of the first order, was a defensive and
not an offensive action.
With this end in view various dis
positions of troops were ordered and
carried out between August 25 and
September 4. But the rapidity of the
German advance, the Bulletin says,
together with delays occasioned by the
necessity for reinforcing and complet
ing the British army, as well as trans
Sort difficulties occasioned by an exo
us from Paris, forced part of th*
troops sent from the east to rslnfora*
4
Gen. Maunoury to detrain farther south
than was at first intended.
Everything had been arranged as
Gen. Joffre desired by September 4,
and he gave orders for a general at
tack on the morning of the 6th. These
orders, which are reproduced in the
Bulletin, give in detail the part each
i army was to play.
GERMAN COLLIER SUNK
IN BATTLE IN BALTIC
BERLIN, June 10.?Only one German
ship, a collier, was sunk by a Russian
submarine in the naval engagement of
June 5 in the Baltic sea off the Gulf of
Riga, according to reliable information
obtained here. It is stated that a Ger
man destroyer, which was sailing by the
side of the collier, was slightly dam
aged by the same torpedo, but was able
jto make port.
Denial was made of a report pub
lished in the Army Messenger at Petro
grad that there were explosions on
other vessels attacked by Russian sub
marines or that any other damage was
done.
PETROGRAD, June 10.?In spite of
the German denials it is insisted upon
in authoritative circles here that one
German torpedo boat and one transport
were sunk and another torpedo boat
damaged by a Russian submarine in
the recent naval engagement in the
Baltic.
WOMEN SEEK SERVICE
. IN THE AUSTRIAN ARMY
BERLIN, via London, June 10. -From
the town of Brixen in the Austrian
Tyrol numerous requests have been re
ceived by the military authorities in
Vienna from women begging to be al
lowed to serve In the ranks as soldiers.
It has been explained that such service
is impossible.
PRCBE CHARGE AGAINST SHIP.
- f
Members of Crew of Sacramento
Called Before Grand Jury.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 10.?Sub
poenas to appear before the federal
grand jury were served today on
twenty-four members of the crew of
the American steamer Sacramento,
which arrived here yesterday from:
Valparaiso, Chile, where it was
charged the Sacramento violated neu-j
trality laws by transferring a cargo
of .supplies to a German fleet of six
warships 300 miles off Valparaiso near
an island belonging to Chile. After
the alleged transfer the Sacramento
steamed to Valparaiso and was seized
by the Chilean government.
Her commander, A. T. Anderson, and
two officers remained with the steamer
during her internment. Formerly the
Sacramento was the German freighter
Alexandria.
Steamer Sunk; Crew Lost.
LONDON, June 10.?The coasting
steamer Gertrude, 353 tons, was sunk
off the Irish coast Sunday in a collision
with the Ellerman liner City of Vienna.
The Gertrude's crew of nine were lost. I
Ask
Dr. Bowers
ARE you worried about
your health? Write
your worries to Dr.
Edwin F. Bowers.
Every week he an
swers the most interesting
health question received. Look
for his answers in our Sunday
Magazine.
Do vo"u want to know how
to make your money earn #
more money? Ask Albert W.
Atwood, the well known
financial authority. His an
swers, too, are a regular fea
ture of the Sunday Magazine
of Til* Sunday Star.
! GERMANY REJECTS
POINTS AS TO FRYE
t
I Claims in Latest Note Right to
Destroy Any U. S. Ship
Carrying Contraband.
! BUT IT AGREES TO PAY
DAMAGES FOR THE ACT
I .
Opposes Contention of U. S. Govern
ment That Prize Coujii Proceed
j ings Mean Unnecessary Delay.
j
Germany's latest note to the United
j States on the sinking of the American
sailing ship William P. Frye by the
Prinz Eitel Friedrieh, received here to
day, makes the l>ir-reaching claim of
a right to destroy any American ves
sel carrying contraband, while agree
ing to pay damages for the act.
Two points made by the United
States are rejected by Germany. One
was the statement of the American
government in its note of April 2S that
prize court proceedings meant unnec
essary delay, all matters concerned
being susceptible of prompt settle
ment through diplomatic channels, and
the other was that the destruction of
the Frye was "unquestionably a viola
tion of the obligations imposed upon
the imperial government under exist
ing treaty stipulations between the
United States and Prussia."
Under the Prussian-American treaty
of 18J8, the binding force of which
was admitted by Germany in its note
of April f?, the right of citizens of
either country to ship arms and am
munition as well as all other kinds
of contraband in their own vessels
was granted in time of war. but each
party had the right to detain such
contraband and make payment for it if
confiscated.
The note from Germany today en
larges upon the treaty of 182S by claim
ing that while the treaty did not spe
cifically permit the destruction of a
ship, nevertheless if contraband could
not be stopped in any other way, it
could, "in the extreme case, be effected
by the destruction of the contraband
and of the ship carrying it. "
Question of Military Necessity.
The effect of Germany's answer today,
if its assertions are accepted by the
United States, would be to throw into
the prize courts for decision all cases
of whether destruction of an American
vessel constitutes an extreme case ot
military necessity.
International law, outside of treaty
stipulations, has contained many a
moot case on that point. While the
declaration of London established
finally that in case of military neces
sity a ship who^e cargo was more than
half contraband could be destroyed
after passengers and crew were re
moved to a place of safety, the decla
ration was not ratified by the United
States, express notice having been
given again by the American govern
ment to Germany in the note of April
28 that the declaration was not re
garded as In force.
The following is the German reply:
? Foreign Office, lteriin. June 7. 1915.
"The undersigned has the honor to
make the following reply to the note
of his excellency. Air. James W.
Gerard, ambassador of the United
States of America, dated April 30, 1916.
foreign office number 3291, on the sub
ject of the sinking of the American
sailing vessel William P. Frye by the
German auxiliary cruiser Prinz Eitel
Friederich:
"The German government cannot ad
mit that, as the American government
assumes, the destruction of the sailing
vessel mentioned constitutes a viola
tion of the treaties concluded between
Prussia and the United States at an
earlier date and now applicable to the
relations between the German empire
and the I'nited States, or of the Ameri
can rights dericed therefrom. For
these treaties did not have the inten
tion of depriving one of the contract
ing parties engaged in war of the
right of stopping the supply of con
traband to his enemy when he recog
nizes the supply of such as detrimental
to his military Interests.
Bight to Destroy Contraband.
"On the contrary, article 13 of the
Prussian-American treaty of July 10,
1799, expressly reserves to the party at
war the right to stop the carrying of
contraband and to detain the contra
bnd. It follows, then, that If It ennnot
be accomplished in any other way, the
stopping of the supply may in the ex
treme case be effected by the destruc
tion of the contraband and of the ship
carrying it. As a matter of course, the
obligation of the party at war to pay
compensation to the parties interested
of the neutral contracting party re
mains in force whatever be the manner
of stopping the supply.
"According to general principles of
international law. any exercise of the
right of control over the trade in con
traband is subject to the decision of
the prize courts even though such right
may be restricted by special treaties.
"At the beginning of the present war
Germany, pursuant to these principles.,
established by law prize Jurisdiction
for cases of the kind under constdera-J
tion. The case of the William P. Frye
Is likewise subject to the German prize
jurisdiction, for the Prussian-American
treaties mentioned contain no stipula
tion as to how the amount of the com
pensation. provided by article 13 of the
treaties cited, is to be fixed.
"The German government, therefore,
complies with its treaty obligations to
a full extent when the prize courts in
stituted by it In accordance with inter
national law proceed in pursuance to
the treaty stipulation and thus award
the American Interested an equitable
indemnity. There would, therefore, be
no foundation for a claim of the Ameri
can government unless the prize courts
should not grant Indemnity in accord
ance with the treaty; in such event,
however, the German government would
not hesitate to arrange for equitable
indemnity notwithstanding.
"For the rest, prize proceedings of
the case of the Frye are indispensable
apart from the American claims, for
the reason that other claims of the
neutral and enemy interested parties
are to be considered In the matter.
Decision by Prize Court.'
"As was stated in the note of April
4 last, the prize court, should have to
decide the question whether the de
struction of the ship and cargo was
legal, whether and under what condi
tions, the property sunk was liable td
confiscation, and to whom and In what
amount indemnity is to be paid pro
vided application therefor is received.
"Since the decision of the prize court
must first be awaited before any. fur
ther position Is taken by the German
government the simplest way for the
American interested parties to settle
their claims would be to enteivthem la
the competent records of prize pro
ceedings.
"The undersigned begs to suggest
that the ambassador bring the above
to the knowledge of his government
and avail himself, etc.
"VON JAGOW.
"Minister of Foreign Affairs."
k -
4
TAKE MONFALCONE
FROM AUSTRIANS IN
: STUBBORN FIGHTING
Italian Forces Reported to
Have Seized Strategical Point
in Advance on Trieste.
FOES BATTLING FIERCELY
ALONG THE ISONZO RIVER
Dykes Cut and Country Flooded to
Stay Advance of
Invadera.
! FORT POSSACCHIO FORSAKEN
j
Austrian Troops Destroy Fortifica
tions as Xing Victor Emmanuel'*
Men Press on Toward Ro
vereto and Trent.
LONDON. June 10.?Capture
of the Austrian town of Mon
falcone is announced in an offi
cial communication from Rom*.
(Jen. Cadorna, Italian chief of
staff, reports that the town wa
occupied after stubborn fighting
i along the Isonzo river.
At various points along the
Isonzo sharp lighting has oc
curred. and several successes for
the Italians are announced, but
it is conceded the Austrians still
hold dominating positions on the
right, or west, bank of the river.
Austrians Open Dikes.
The Austrians have attempted to
'j transform the lower region of the
j Isonzo river into a flooded country.
! duplicating: the feat of the allies in
I Belgium, for the purpose of halting
! the Italian advance. Dikes were
j opened, the banks of the river were
? broken down and several canals were
i tapped. The results achieved were in
significant. however, as most of the
water was either absorbed by the
earth or carried off by ditches. No
serious inconvenience for the invading
Italians was occasioned, it is declared
Italian forces are still moving
northward over the Trent frontier, but
thus far the engagements apparently
i have been little more than skirmishes.
Fort Is Abandoned.
Italian troops moving through the
Arsa valley toward Rovereto. to the
south of Trent, discovered that tbe
Austrians had abandoned Fort Pos
sacchio, two miles north of Matassone
Fort Possacchio was rated as one of
the strongest Austrian fortifications in
that region. It was equipped with
heavy guns said to have been brought
from Galicia. The Austrians destroyed
the fortifications before their evacua
tion.
Of Strategic Importance.
Monfalcone, which, it is declared, ha#
been captured, lies three miles east of
the river and about an equal distance
north of the Gulf of Trieste. It is six
teen miles northwest of the city of Tri
este, against which the Italian invasion
presumably is directed.
Possession of Monfalcone would be of
strategic importance to the Italians,
partirularly as that point is connected
by railroad with Trieste. The latest
mention of the town in official Aus
trian dispatches was in last night's re
port. which said an Italian attack in
that vicinity had failed.
Italian Advance Contested.
Efforts of Italian troops to force a
passage of the Isonzo river ar?? being
stubbornly contested by the Austrian?,
but are meeting with success, accord
ing to a statement signed by Gen.
Cadorna. <-hief of the general staff. In
sued at the war office last night. The
communication follows:
"With the object of repulsing She
enemy from dominating positions he
still holds on the right bank of the
Isonzo and establishing strong posi
tions at the passages of the river, we
I continued our operations June 7 and 8.
The enemy offered a determined resist
i ance. favored by the lay of the ground
land strong fortifications.
i "Our passage was made more difficult
bv numerous obstacles placed on the
bridges and in the roads and also by
the flooded ground along the lower
course of the river. Everywhere our
troops fought with ardor and tenacity
and succeeded In taking Important po
sitions which enabled us to occupy the
city of Monfalcone. The Are of our
batteries considerably damaged tnt
enemy's artillery at a number of
points.
Enemy Positions Occupied.
??In the difficult region of Montenero
a successful attack on our part led to
the occupation of positions from which
the \ustrians retreated, leaving 100 bod
ies. which we buried, and sixty wounded.
"Near Cap*#retto seventy Austrian sol
diers surrendered.
"In other regions along the Isonxo we
made more than 400 prisoners Our losses
were unimportant. Prisoners, say the
Austrian losses were considerable.
"On the Tyrol-Trentino frontier our
forces continue in close co-operation their
action against positions which must be
occupied in order to force the enemy to
disclose his defensive preparations and
permit the development of ulterior opera
tions.
Near Falzarego Pass.
"Notwithstanding the determined re
balance of the enemy our troops have
approached beyond the fronUer cloee to
Falzarego pass at the foot of the Sasso
di Stria.
"A victorious action was fought ten
kilometers (about seven miles) north
of Cortina D'Ampeszo. A piece of ar
tillery remained in our hands.
"In the neighborhood of Mone Croc?
fighting had been going on for several
days for the important position of
Frilkopel, which the Austrians defend
id desperately. Our Alpine troops def
initely took it on the evening of the
*th. making one hundred prisoner*.
Austrian Artillery Suffers.
The Austrian artillery at Tolmino has
?uttered heavy dama#e from the Ital
ian bombardment, dispatches state. Ths
Austrian iosses are bseomlng serious