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Show BRITISH EIRE ON AMERICAN SHIP Pan.ima. Nov 27. The American steamship St Helens, captain Odland. which sailed from New York November Novem-ber 17 for Sau Francisco, arrived at Colon today and reported that she had been fired on by the British cruiser Berwick. Captain Odland said that his ship: was hailed, but apparently tailed to heave to as quickly as was expected, with the result that the British cruiser crui-ser fired two shots across the stern of the American vessel. The incident inci-dent occurred yesterday at a point 90 miles northwest of Colon An officer from the cruiser boarded board-ed the St. Helens and examined her papers and cargo and then the vessel was permitted to proceed on her voyage voy-age after a delay of three hours. Washington, Nov. 27. While no official report of the firing by the British steamer Berwick toward t he-American he-American steamer St. Helens off Panama Pan-ama has been received here tonight, state department officials regarded the situation as not unusual in time of war. The merchantmen, according to naval na-val procedure, are expected to heavo to Immediately on demand of pelllger-1 ent warships or promptly signal their intention of submitting to search. If there is any delay, the customary practice is to fire a shot across t he-bow he-bow or stern of the merchantman as a warning. The right of search is generall recognized by neutrals and delays of three hours while cargo jand papers are examined are not un- i usual. The belligerent is even authorized to use force in executing the right of search and is not held liable, according accord-ing to international law authorities, for damages resulting from resistance by a neutral ship |