The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-01
FRENCH NAVAL DECREE.
REGULATIONS GOVERNING FOREIGN
VESSELS IN WAR TINE.
ships That Pass In the Night Must
Not Pass Within Three Miies-Nio-
Iation of Rules VIII Result In
Being Fired Upon.

Washington. Nov. S0.-Secretary Her
bert has published to the navy in gen
eraI orders a decree of the govern
ment of France prescribing regula-
tons for the entrance and sojourn of
vessels in the seaports of that country
in time of war Although intended for
the information and guidance of COM
manding officers or United States naval
vessels. the new regulations are of i'm
portance TO the masters of all ships,
and they have the additional interest
to the general public Of showing what
steps 10 protect ports are believed 20
be necessary by a great naval power
as well as the significance their enact
ment prOclaims that France is emitting
no detail in her preparations Tor the
conflict which that government has
long deemed inevitable. The decree
was issued by President Faure June y
last, and formally communicated 10 the
department of state recently by the
French ambassador here. An abstract
is as follows:
Art l. In time of war, between sun
rise and sunset, no French merchant
vessel. nor any foreign vessel. whether
a man of war or merchantmen, shall
approach within less than three miles
OF the French coast, (trance and
French DOssessions), before having
been ordered 50 to do; between sunset
and sunrise the prohibition to approach
within less than three miles is abso-
lutte.
Between sunrise and sunset all YES
sells that are at such a distance from
land that their colors can be distin-
guished therefrOm. shall carry their
national colors. If they desire TO enter
the prohibited regions, they shall so
signify By hoisting the signal for a
pilot: but they shall remain without
the three-mile limit until they have
been boarded, OF until a semaphOre has
signalied TO them that their request
has been granted
All vessels must Immediately obey
all orders signallcd by a semaphore
or received from a man-Of-war. either
verbally or by International code or
signal.
Art. ,. In time of war in case of fail
ure by a vessel affected by this de-
cree 20 conform to the above order,
the nearest fort or vessel of war shall
warn her TO obey the same by firing
a blank charge. If this first notice is
without effect, there shall be fired, two
minutes later. a projectile and fl 1ally
after another interval Of two mint -
if the vessel does not stop or stand
off, an effective fire shall be opened.
In case of urgency the preliminary
blank charge may be omitted. A vessel
also states the order relating - the
Introduction of the prohibited districts
renders itself liable to he destroyed.
Art. 3. In time of war. no small craft.
other than those belonging to French
men-of-war shall go and come in the
fortified roads and harbOrs without
special authorization and without hav-
ing received from the maritime au-
thorities the means of making Them
selves known.
During both day ard night the go
ing and coming OF small steamers,
other than those belonSing To French
vessels of war, shall be absolutely pro-
hibited Row boats. however, can 60
and come from sunrise To sunset. pro-
Vided they have received permission
from the Dors authorities, bur under
the reservation thet they are to keen
clear of vessels u. war. if so ordered,
and of not communicating with .hcm.
in any case, without having asked and
received authority 20 do so.
In commercial rcrts. special meas
ures viii be taken by higher authority
of such a nature as to serve the inter
ests Of commerce. although imposing
upon the traffic III small craft the re-
strictions judged necessary.
Art. 4. In time Of war. vessels au-
thorized TO enter French roadsteads
and harbors must IL he the anchprages
which viii DC assigned them by tbe
local authorities and conform 10 the
instructions % every kind issued by
these authorities.
The length % their sojourn is sub
ordinate to the necessities of the mill
tary command. and when it is neres-
sary TO place these localities uDon a
war footing, the higher authority can.
if circumstances -eIIire it. order them
to withdraw TO the ofing or to some
designated place.
This order must be executed at once.
but q delav may always be granted
to vessels which are justified in being
so situated as TO render immediate
compliance impossible. No vessel shall
set under way either to change her
anchorage or leave the harhor without
having haen authorized So tn 10 bV no