OCR Text |
Show THREAT MADE TO j KITE AMERICAN!) Crews of Armed American Merchantmen Are to be Put to Death. BERNE. Switzerland, March 15, via Paris, t 30 p m. The crews of armed American merchantmen who venture to fire upon German submarines before be-fore a state of war exists .between C,erman and (he United States must expect to meet the fate of Captain Fryalt, warns the Muenchm r Nemeste Nachrichten. a copy of which has reached Perne, in commenting on the announcement of the state department that American merchantmen will be armed. "We assume." the newspaper says, "that President Wilson realizes the fate to which he is subjecting his artillerymen. ar-tillerymen. According to the German prize crew laws, it Is unneutral of the enemy if a neutral ship takes part in hostilities. If such a ship opposes the prize court, then It must be treated treat-ed as an enemv ship The prize rules specify as to the crews of such ships If, without beinc attached to the fore es of the enemv, they take part in hostilities or make forcible resistance they may be treated according to the usages of war. "If President Wilson, knowing these provisions of ini ernat ional law, pro ceedfi to arm American merchantmen he must assume responsibility that American seamen will meet the fate of Captain Fryatt." Captain harles Fryatt of the Great Eastern railway steamer Brussels was 1 ried before a German naval court-martial In July, 1916, and sentenced to death on a charge that he had attempted at-tempted to ram the German submarine I The sentence was executed. |