The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-12
BR|TA|N'S PORTS
ARE BEING MINED
Admiralty Gives Warning of New
and Grave Perils to Neutral
Shipping.
GERMANY SETS EXAM.PL E
Gold-Laden Cruiser Tennessee
and the North Carolina Con-
fronting Danger.
GERMANY SETS EXAM.PL L {
64th YEAR

WASHINGTON August li-Mining
the North Sea az part OF the plan OF
the European war not only may close
most OF the Northern European ports
to navigation, but the, gold laden
cruiser Tennessee. the cruiser North
Carolina and neutral passenger :cs-
scls bearing Americans from Europe.
will he confronted with new dangers
The American government was adj
vised formally during the day by the
British embassy here that. inasmuch
rs Germany had been scattering mines
indiscrimnatcly." Great Britain no
longer could refrain from planting
mines near her own ports.
Secretary Bryan said to-niEh. that
Americans At home must rest assured
that the passenger lines plying be
tween Northern European ports would
take no chances that would inpcril
life, II is believed that Americans In
northern ports VIII remain there for
the present. or make their way south
and southeast TO such ports hs Mar
seillcH or Lisbon to obtain passage for
the United States
NOT LIKELY TO VENTURE
INTO NORTH SEA WATERS
An itinerary. for the cruisers Ten
nessee and North Carolina bearing NH
lions in gold for the relief - Amer
icans, has never been announced. but
as both Great Britain and Germany
have given warning OF the dangers IN
the North Sea. it IS being taken FOR
granted here that neither Of tho Amer
lean warships will venture into those
waters. After touching at Falmouth.
England. the treasure ships probably
VIII land AT some port in France, and
then head FOR the Mediterranean. en-
deavorins, il is thought. 10 reach Amer
leans in both Germany and Austria
from points IN the Adriatic.
One diplomat!st pointed out to-da y
that the ports Of four neutral nations,
Norway, Sweden, Denmark ard the
ctherlands az we'll az one Of the
belligcrents - Belgium were prac-
fically blockadcd through the prom
iguous planting Of mines in the North
The Hague convention which rcgu-
lates the use of contact mines, stipu-
lates that the bciligerents shall under
take to their utmost TO render these
mines harmless within a limited time.
and should they cease TO be under sur
reillance 10 notify the danger zones
as soon as military eNieencics permit
Naval observers here believe. how
ever that in view or the titanic strug-
gle, this article in the convention viii
be of little moment.
The formal memorandum. presented
BY the British charge d'affaircs. was
delivered 10 the State Department so
that ships under neutral rags might be
turned back. II said:
The Germans arr planting contact
mlrcs scriminately about the North
Sea, in the open sea withou; regard for
consequences 10 nicrchautmcp' The
waters of the North Sea- must. there
fore. he regarded as perilous 10 mer-
chant shipping of all nations.
In view OF the methods adopted by
Germany. the British admiralty must
al fiIil- q IIhprfN
adopt similar measures III self-defonsc,
which must inevitably increase the
dangers 10 navigation in The North
Sea. But before doing SO, they think
1t right to issue this warning in order
that merchant ships under neutral
flags trading with North Sea ports
should turn back before entering the
area of such exceptional danger
FEW AMERICAN
CITIZENS IN WANT
In only one or two places In Europe.
notably at Genoa. in Italy. and III
Sweden, does the financial embarrass-
ment of Americans continue. accord5
ing TO reports received to-day by
Secretary Garrison. The situation
has improved much that 1t may
he unnecessary to deposit any gold in
Europe for the relief OF Americans
Nearly all OF the European govern
ments are believed TO be desirous Of
establishing heavy credits with Amer
lea to draw upon in payment of the
vast quantities of food aud supplies OF
other kinds which tbey must have dur
Ing the continuance of hostilities and
Tor a long time afterwards.
Secretary Garrison thinks. therefore,
that as soon as the first panicky feel
Ing is over and financial conditions
have been readjustcd. the mere an
nouncement that the United States or
an individual has deposited specie in
an American bank subject to draft
from European countries Will he suf
1c)ent to establish credit for Amcri-
cans In Europe
Everywhere on the Continent the
scattered American tourists and busi-
gathering at the seaports, and ar
ranging for transportation homeward
Mr.. Garrison believes that owing to
tho facilities offered bv the regular
steamship lines. 1t will be unnecessary
TO send more than one or(two govern
mcnt vessels.
Official reports to the State Depart
ment from Hamburg to-day cleared m
the last apprehension for the safety
or Americans In the German empire
with the exception OF those special
cases which have been taken on bv
Ambassador Gerard
The little colony in Hamburg. ac-
cording to consular dispatches, is not
only In comfortable circumstances. bur
cheerful, and disposed to regard the
, situation as free from any danger
whatever Personal kilograms from
Mrs. Benjamin Harrison. widow of the
former President, stated that she was
safe In SGravehage. in Scandinavia
Continued on Third. page.)
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