Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-12-05
POWERS TALK WAR TACTICS
Conference Held at London to Dis
cuss Agreement.
ACTION OF NEUTRALs IN WAR
Difference of Opinion over what Aid
should Be Extended Vessels of
BeIIigerents in COaIing
Operations.

LONDON, Dec. 4-The conference of the
powers called by Great Britain for the
framing of code Of laws for naval war
fare and for the formation OF the interna-
tional prize court recommended by The
Hague congress was opened at the foreign
office today. with an interval for the
Christmas holidays, It is expected that the
conference will continue until about Feb
ruary l. At the request of the British gov
ernment the powers which accepted invita-
tions to the conference have forwarded a
list OF subjects which they consider should
be discussed.
The United States, Great Britain, France,
Germany, Italy, Austria Hungary Russia,
Spain, Holland and Japan will be rep
resented. The American delegates are Rear
Admiral Charles Stockton and Prof. George
Grafton Wilson of Brown university. Com
mander John II. Gibbons. naval attsche at
the London embassy. will act as aide.
Great Britain wM be rspresented bB the
earl of Desart and Captain Charles L. Of
ley, director of naval intelligence and sec
retary OF the committee on imperial de-
fense. They will have have as assistants
two officers OF the naval intelligence de-
partment and a foreign secretary.
Plans are Submitted.
have submitted their views on various
points. The United States. Great Britain
and Japan are agreed, in principle at least,
on the most important proposals, and they
may be expected to work in accord with
the probable support of France. There are
wide differences OF opinion between these
powers and the other six countries rep
resented Great Britain stands alone in
supporting the right Of a belligerent 10
search neutral merchantmen proceeding 10
an enemy's port under the escort OF a war
ship flying the same flag II claims the
right OF search under all circumstances
while The other powers contend that the
guarantee of a neutral power should be
sufficient to protect its vessels from moles-
| tation. 1t is probable, however, that Great
Britain will concede this in return for some
| point It considers more essential.
Great Britain is desirous of abolishine
/ rsband entirely; America and Japan
do not go so far. but they would agree II
/ only munitions of war should be declared
| contraband.
| Continental Views.
The continental powers viii urge the con.
| tinuation OF the present system under
which the belllgerents declare what ID
contrsband.
| Great Britain, America and Japan agree
on the method OF blockading, contendinl
for the right to seize blockade runners a
| any time or place. This is opposed to the
continental view that only warships ac
tually engaged in blockading have the righ
to seize vessels. These same three power
opposed the continental contention that
belligerent has a right TO destroy and seiE
| vessels before trial as was done. for in
stance. by Russia with British merchant
men during the late war.
The conference will differ on the re
| sponsibility OF a neutral power for a shil
leaving one OF its ports as a merchantmen
and afterwards being transformed into
man-of-war. as IN the case OF the Alabama
The United States naturally supports IN
view that the neutral power is responsible
very strongly and It finds support not onl
from France and Japan, but also from
Great Britain. The other powers repre-
sented take the opposite view.
The right OF belligerent ships to coal 4
neutral ports also has divided the con
ference into two factions.
America, Great Britain, Japan and Franc
contend that a ship should make but on
visit TO a neutral port and be given onl
sufficient coal 10 carry It TO a home port
the other powers. however. hold that
port and fiji up with coal as often as
can.
A number OF other questions, largel
technical and will be considered.