Salt Lake Telegram | 1917-03-16 | Page 3 | Warns Crews of Armed U. S. Merchantmen

Warns Crews of Armed i I U. U S. S Merchantmen By Associated Press Pren BER BERNE E Switzerland Via Paris Parts March 10 The Tho crews of ot armed AmerIcan American American Amer Amer- I ican merchantmen who venture to fire upon German submarines before a state of oC war exists between Germany German and the tho United States must expect to meet the fate falo Captain of or Fryatt warns the tho a 3 COP copy of ot which has reached Berne Borne in commenting on the announcement of ot the tho state department dc that American merchantmen will be armed Wo We 0 assume the newspaper says that President Wilson Willson realizes the fate to ho he Is if subjecting subjecting- his ar ar- ar- ar According to the tho German prize crew laws It is of ot tho the enem enemy If It a neutral ship takes part In hostilities If It such a ship opposes tho the prize court then it must be tr treated as asan asan an nn enemy ship Tho Time prize rules rule specify l fy as to the crews o of such ships If It without being attached to the tho forces o of the time en enemy my the they take part in hostilities hostilities hostilities hos hos- or m make ke forcible resistance they ma may be bo treated according to tho the usages of or warI war I If President Wilson knowing these provisions of at international law proceeds proceeds proceeds pro pro- to arm American merchantmen he must assume responsibility that American seamen will wilt meet the fate fata of ot Captain Fryatt Capt Charles Charles Charle Fryatt Fratt of or the Great Eastern railway steamer Brussels was tried before a German naval court- court martial martinI in Tu July 1916 and sentenced to death on a charge that ho he had at attempted attempted attempted at- at tempted to ram the Gt German submarine U U 33 Tho The sentence was as executed