The morning times., 1896-11-30
PROTECTING FRENCH PORTS
Movements Of Vessels in Those
Waters During a War.
DECREE OF THE GOVERNMENT
Ships Cannot Approach Within Less
Than Three Miles of Land Unless
Authorized TO Do SO-SInall
steamers Not Allowed to Either
Enter or Leave the Harbor.

Secretary Herbert has published to tn,
Navy In general decree of the government
OF France prescribing regulations for tn,
| entrance and sojourn of vessels in the sea
| ports OF that country In time of war. AL
| though intended for the information ant
| guidance OF commanding officers of Unitet
| states navalvesseis the new regulations n
| OF Importance TO the masters OF all ships
ana they have the additional interest t,
| the general public of showing what steps
to protect ports are believed to be neces
sary Dy great naval power, as we'll the
| nsnlflcance theii cnactme ent proclaims
that France is omitting no detail in her
elaborate preparations for the conflict
| winch That government has long desmed
| inevitable.
The decree. which was issued by Presi-
| dent Faure June IL last, and formally
communicated to the Department OF State
recehiy Dy the French auDdssddor here,
contains five articles as follows:
IN time OF war, between sunrise and
sunset, no French merchant vessel nor
any foreign vessel, whether a maIi-of- war
or merchantmen, shall approach within
less than three miles OF the French coasts
(France and French possessionsi before
having been authorized 10 do so, between
sunset and sunrise the prohibition to ap-
proach within less than three miles is
absolute.
Between sunrise and sapset all vessels
that are At such a distance from the land
that their colors can be distinguished
thereirom, shall carry their national col
ors. If they desire to enter the prohibited
regions they shall so signify by hoisting
the signal for pilot; but they shall re-
main without the three-mile limit until
they have been boarded, or until a soma.
phore has signalled to them that their re-
quest has been granted.
VESSELS MUST OBEY.
IAN vessels must Immediately obey all
orders signalled by semaphore, or re-
ceiycd from man-of-war, either verbally
or by International code or signal.
In case of failure by vessel affected
by this decree to conform to the above
order. the nearest fort or vessel of war
shall warn her TO obey the same by firing
a blank charge. Ii this first notice is
without effect, there shall be fired two
minutes later, projectile, and, finally,
after another interval of two minutes, If
the vessel does not stop or stand off, an
effective fire shaH be opened.
I'm case of urgency the preliminary blank
charge may he omitted. A vessel that
violates the order relating to the inter-
diction Of the prohibited districts renders
itself liable to be destroyed.
No small craft, other than those be-
longing To French men.of-war, shall 20 and
come in the fortified ruadste DIS a nd harbors
without special authorization and without
having received from the maritime authuri.
ties the means of making themselves known.
During buth DAY ana night the going
aud coming OF small steamers. other than
those belonging to French vessels Of war,
shall be absolutely prohibited. Row boats,
however, can gD and come from sunrise TO
sunset, provided they have received per
mission from the port authorities. but m
fta
clear of vessels of war, II so ordered. and
of not communicating with them, in any
case, without haying asked and received
authority to do SO.
RULES FOR SMALL CRAFT.
The going and coming of authorized
small craft Is subjected elsewhere to the
local instructions issued by the prefactoral
authority and especially as regards the
prohibition to enter certain portions OF the
roadsteads OF or communicating with any
other places than those expressly dcs-
ignated.
IN commercial ports special measures
will be taken by higher authority. of such
a nature as to serve the interests nf com
merce, although imposing upon the traffic
Of small craft the restrictions Judged ueCes-
sary.
Vessels authorized to enter French road
steuds and harhors must take the anchor
ages which will tc assigned them by the
local authorities and conform To the in
structions, Of every kind, issued by these
authorities.
''Tae length of their sojourn is sutordin-
ate 10 the necessities OF the military COM
mand, and when it is necessary to place
these localities upon war tcoting, the
higher authority can, if circumstances re-
qIire 1t, order them to withdraw to the
offing or to some designated place.
''This order m ust be- executed at once but |
u delay may always be granted to vessels |
which are justified in being so situated as |
to render immediate compliance impossible. |
No vessel shall get under WEIGH either 10 |
change her anchorage or to leave the harbor |
by the local authorities"