Northern Advocate Daily WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE Northern Mail Daily. MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1915. SHIP FOR SHIP.

Northern Advocate, 19 April 1915, Page 4

Northern Advocate Daily WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE Northern Mail Daily.

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1915. SHIP FOR SHIP.

REGISTERED FOR TRANBMIBBION THhOtJOH THK POST AS A NE Wβ PAPEB

In the suggestion made by the President of the Brittany Shipowners' Association, as cabled on Saturday, that every ship sunk by German submarines should be replaced by one of-, equal tonnage from the German vessels now interned in French ports, there is. a sense of retributive justice that will appeal to many who advocate the Mosaic law of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth"; and that the French ister of Marine is considering the proposal will further encourage their hope that the Teuton will he paid back, as far as possible, in his own,coin. None of them, we suppose, will go so far as to ask for retaliation in kind for the barbarism whereby the 9 Gerrxi'an has wantonly deprived hundreds of innocents of their lives and has gloated mockingly over their drowning struggles, yet we can get an equivalent in , material, with none to say us nay nor justly lift the finger of reproach. Since the policy of the German leaders has been to oppress nony combatants by every conceivable form of brutality, there is no law to which they can appeal against thp. putting in force of this very apt inspiration ' which has, occurred to M. Mezauban, . nor against the. form of blockade which aims partly at the eubjuga-

tion of the War Lord and his minions by the process of starving out. It will be noted in this connection that quite a change has come over the tone of American protestation, in marked contrast to the earlier remonstrances. The latest Note on the subject, as handed by the American Ambassador to Sir E. G-rey, expressed at least nominal friendship, an appreciation of the special difficulties which make it impossible /or the Allies to observe the strict 4fitter of the rules of international law. and confidence in the discretion with which the blockade will be carried 'out by the Allies. It may be that the vspirit of. Sir Ed•;ward Grey's replies to :America throughout 'has induced a more .reasonable and conciliatory attitude, for in all his arguments the British Foreign Secretary has pointed out the anxiety of Britain riot to infringe the rights of ; neutrals, and the action of, .mr na.yal officers in avoiding all pre- ; veritable hardships. If the Allies, through (say) geographical necessity, have committed any breae/h of law drawn up at any international congress, the -German'authorities have in addition 'been guilty of a breach of the law which is founded upon the 'instincts of civilised humanity. One must admit some justice in the American complaint that a nation's rights over its own ships are largely nullified by this Brit-i-sh blockade device, but happily Americans now appear to realise that the best way out of the diffi-: culty is to trust the British Government not to abuse the powers which supremacy at sea has given it. Indeed, the'ce is no other way, for the cordon will not be relaxed, though any requests in that direction'will no doubt be refused only in the fairest and ■friendliest manner possible. The British have not destroyed a single enemy s<hip. other than naval ones, whereas the German submarines have sunk every ship, they could reach—including a num!ber of neutrals—have caused the death of many non-combatants, and have destroyed t property without inquiring whether.it was intended for the civilian or the military population. Taking all these things into consideration we. are' iclined to regard the '.scheme of M. Mezauban as singularly happy and appropriate, and .one that in operation would help to further nonplus and dismay an enemy who deserves nothing better at the hands of reputable antagonists. :