GERMANY'S BLOCKADE DECLARATION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2390, 20 February 1915, Page 7

GERMANY'S BLOCKADE DECLARATION

AN AMAZING STATEMENT

BRITAIN SUMMONS HUNGER AS AN ALLY London, February 38. Berlin's message to America states that Germany has hitherto scrupulously observed aU valid.international rules. At the beginning of the war she agreed to America's proposal to ratify the new Declaration of London, and she allowed the transport of Danish provisions to England, though she was well able to prevent it. Germany had'been cut oif from oversea supplies by the silent but protesting toleration of neutrals. Great Britain, with the toleration of neutrals, was being supplied with goods which were absolute contraband. Germany felt obliged to point out with the greatest emphasis that a traffic in arms, estimated at hundreds of millions, was being -carried on between American firms and Germany's enemies. Germany fully comprehends that these matters involve no formal viola-, tion of neutrality, but the entire public opinion of Germany feels that'it is severely prejudiced by the fact that neutrals have achieved insignificant results in safeguarding their rights in legitimate commerce with' Germany, while making unlimited use of their right of carrying' on contraband trade with Britain and the other enemies. In view of this situation, Germany is obliged to answer Britain's murderous naval warfare by sharp counter-measures. . ' OHOIOE BETWEEN DESTITUTION AND STARVATION. If Britain summons hunger as an ally for the purpose of imposing upon seventy million civilised people the choice between and starvation and submission at Britain's commercial will, then Germany is determined to take up the gauntlet and appeal to similar allies. Germany trusts that the neutrals who have, silently submitted to the disadvantageous consequences of Britain's hunger war will display no smaller measure of toleration to Germany, even if her measures result in new terrors in naval, Germanv is resolved to suppress the importation of war material by Britain and her allies by all means at its disposal. ' . Germany takes it for granted that- neutrals will not oppose the forcible suppression of this trade. Germany has proclaimed a naval war zone, and will seek to close that zone by mines, and will also endeavour to destroy hostile merchant vessels in every other way, though she does, not fail to recognise that action against Britain endangers all trade within the war zone without distinction. This is the natural result of nvne warfare. Germany considers that she is entitled to hop© that neutrals will acquiesce in these measures, as Germany has given proof of her desiro to protect neutral shipping, by giving fourteen days' -notice to enable neutrals to avoid danger, which will most surely be achieved by remaining outside the war .zone. Neutral vessel's which in spite of the notice enter the closed waters will themselves bear the responsibility for unfortunate accident*. * Germany expressly announced the d estruction of ail enemy merchantmen in the war zone, not the destruction of all merchantmen, as the American Government erroneously understood. Germany will in the future Britain in presuming that neutral ships have contraband aboard. While ready to deliberate with the American Government any measures to secure the safety of the legitimate shipping of neutrals in the war zone. Germany cannot' forbear pointing out that all such efforts are rendered difficult ' by Britain's misuse of the neutral flag, as in the cases of the Lusitanh and the, Laertes. Moreover, the British Government has supplied merchant ships with arms, and instructed them forcibly to resist submarines. Hence it was difficult for submarines to recognise neutral vessels as such, since search cannot in most cases be undertaken, seeing that if a vessel proved to be a disguised' British ship a search party would be exposed to destruction. This position would make the German measures illusory. GERMANY APPEALS FOR AMERICA'S HELP. Germany to-day was fighting to restore the freedom of the seas, and Bhe therefore rejoiccs that the American Goverment , has'made representations to Britain concerning the illegal use of the American flag. She expresses the expectation that this will forco Britain to respect the American flag in future. In this expectation, submarines have been instructed to refrain from violent action against American merchantmen. • • Germany recommends tho United States to make ships conveying cargo discernible by means of convoys, and is ready to negotiate as .to how this can lj ° will nevertheless he grateful if America will urge its shipping to avoid the war zone until the flag question is settled. She is confident that America will recognise that Germany is fighting a heavy battle for existence, and will understand her motives for tlio recent measures. Tho message concludes that if America can find a way .of causing tho Declaration of London to bo Tespected, thereby making possible the importation to Germany of the necessaries of life and industrial raw material, Germany could not fail to highly appreciate such service in the interest of humane methods of warfare and tho gladly-drawn conclusions from tho new situation.

TORPEDO BOATS TO CARRY THE MAILS. Amsterdam, February 18. The Government proposes to entrust the mail service to Great Britain to torpedo-boats. . ' NO SECURITY TO OFFER NEUTRAL' SHIPS. Christlanla, February 18. The German Ambassador states that next week will see embittered fighting on the British coast. . . Germany is unable to offer neutral ships any securitv. BRITISH AND NEUTRALS COOL AND UNMOVED (Rec. February 19, 10.40 p.m.) London, February '19. The "Daily Chronicle" says the German blockade finds not merely British shipping, but most neutral countries, cool and unmoved. The threat is generally taken as an expression of German »£xa.sj>eration and an excus© for doliberate atrocities on sea, but mainly as an attempt to use the United States as a lever to release Britain's grip on the sea^ « _____ MANY AMERICANS PUBLICLY INSULTED. The "Daily News" Copenhagen correspondent says public feeling in Germany towards Americans has changed since' Washington made it plain it would stand none of the Kaiser's nonsense. Many Americans are publicly insulted, and the position of the American War Committees is becoming extremely difficult. Some members have found the position intolerable and have resigned, and are prepared to quit Germany. Other Americans are leaving for Copenhagen. DEPORTING GERMANS WITH INDEPENDENT MEANS. It is reported that owing to the necessity of restricting food qonsumption the German Government,intends to order foe millions possessing independent means, but ineligible for miltary service to dapart to neutral ccuntnes till the end of the war. It is .proposed that th ree million shall go to Scandinavia and a million each to Holland and Switzerland. THE BLOCKADE IS CAUSING MUGH SATISFACTION. IN • - GERMANY. ■ . , : (Rec. February 19, 8.30 p.m.) . London, February 18. A neutral who has just arrived from Germany says the fact .that the blockade is aimed at neutrals almost as much ag England is causing much satisfaction in Germany, and has reconciled the people to the notion that they are standing alone against the world.-"Tunes" and Sydney "Sun" services. THE KAISER DIRECTING THE BLOCKADE. (Rec. February 20, 0.30 a.m.) n r London, February 19. Despite the blockade, shipping in the Channel is normal. Biistol, Glasgow, and Liverpool are similarly ignoring the threats. The "Daily Mail's" Copenhagen correspondent confirms the report that the Kaiser, Prince Henry, and Grand Admiral Von Tirpitz have gene to \Yilheldmshaven to direct the blockade. . ■ , ... lon ■The latest announcement from Berlin is that the Germans have built big'mine-laying submarines during. the last sis months, and each carries a hundred mines. "