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Show 1 5, CUT ASSIST II FLOATING Ml American Warships Can Only Save Officers and Crew Under Law. "WASHINGTON, Feb. 6. The Japanese Japan-ese cruiser Asama, aground in Turtle bar near Port Pan Bartolome, Lower California, "is in no immediate danger,"" dan-ger,"" according to a report to the navy department today from Rear Admiral Ad-miral Howard, commanding the Pacific fleet iu Mexican waters. Admiral Howard is due to reach the Asama today on the cruiser San Diego. His report was based on a radiogram from tho cruiser Ealeigh, which already has reached the stranded ship. The navv department summarized official of-ficial reports in this statement: Admiral Howard has wired from the U. S.- S. San Diego that the Kaleigh reports the Japanese cruiser - as aground on an uncharted shoal. He savs there is no immediate danger. dan-ger. Admiral Howard should arrive on the scene today. Officials were reticeut in discussing the international phafes of the case arising from the fact that warships of the United States, a neutral nation, are aiding the armed forces of a belligerent bel-ligerent nation, in waters foreign to the United States. The situation, it was said, was unique in international law. Tho shoal upon which the Asama is grounded is believed to be within the territorial waters of Mexico. Official opinion inclined to the view that the most tho American vessels could do was to take the officers and crew off the ship. The dictates of humanity, as it was pointed out, as interpreted in-terpreted by international law, permit the rescue of belligerent personnel by neutrals but would not allow the American Amer-ican craft to assist iu refloating the Vessel. From Admiral Howard s dispatch officials of-ficials assume that the crew of the Asama is still aboard her. Should they have landed on Mexican soil, however, as unofficial reports indicate, the situation sit-uation would become more complicated. In that event the opinion was expressed ex-pressed that the sailors could scarcely be brought away from Mexico. Should they be taken on American vessels, technically American soil, it is taken for granted thev will be brought to the ! United States "for internment during I the war and that the Asama will be ! left to whatever fate may befall her. |