Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-03
Warning OF PERIL
TO ALL SHIPPING
British Admiralty Explain Why
North Sea Is Declared
Military Area.
GERMANS ARE ACCUSED
OF PLANTING THE MINES
Charge Made That Work Was Done
by Merchant Ships Flying
Some Neutral Flag.

The British embassy today is
sued the following announce
ment, comprising the text of a
dispatch received from the Lon
don government, regarding the
presence of mines in the Atlantic
steamship lanes:
please inform government to which
you are accredited that the admiralty
are assuing the following announce
ment:
During the last week the Germans
have scattered mines indiscriminately
in the open sea on main trade route
from America to Liverpool, via north
Of Ireland. Peaceful merchant ships
have already been blown up with loss
of life by this agency. The White Star
liner Olympic escaped disaster by pure
good luck, and but for warnings given
by British cruisers other British and
neutral merchant and passenger YES
sells would have been destroyed.
Laid by Merchant Vessels.
These mines cannot have been laid
by any German ship of war They
have been laid by some merchant ves-
sells flying neutral flag which have
come along the trade route as if for
purpose of peaceful commerce and
while profiting to the full by immunity
enjoyed by neutral merchant ships
have wantonly and recklessly endan-
no nf all m ho
sea. regardless of whether they are
friend or foe, civilian or military in
character.
''Minelaying under neutral flag and
reconnaissance conducted by trawlers,
the ordinary features of German naval
warfare
In these circumstances having re-
gard to the great interests intrusted to
the British navy, to the saIety of
peaceful commerce on high seas and to
national law of trade between neutral
countries. the admiralty feel it neces-
sary to adopt exceptional measures ap-
propriate to the novel conditions under
which this war is being waged
Considered Military Area.
They therefore give notice that the
whole of the North sea must be con-
sidered military area. Within this
area merchant shipping of all kinds,
traders of all countries, fishing craft
and all other vessels will be exposed
to the gravest dangers from mines
which it has been necessary to lay and
rom warships searchin vigilantly by
night and day for suspicious craft.
can merchant and fishing vessels
fNf II
of the dangers they encounter by en-
tering this area, except in strict ac-
cordance with admiralty directions.
Every effort will be made to convey
this warning to neutral countries and
to vessels on the sea, but from tho
9TH of November onward the admiralty
announces that all ships passing a
line drawn from the northern point of
the Hebrides through Farce Islands
to Iceland do SO at their own peril
Safe Route to Take.
Ships of all countries wishing to
trade to and from Norway. the Baltic,
Denmark and Holland are advised to
come. if inward bound. by the English
channel and Straits of Dover There
they will be given sailing directions
which will pass them safely so far as
Great Britain is concerned up the east
coast of England to Farne Island,
whence safe route will. if possible, he
given to Lindesnaes light ship From
this point they should turn north or
south. according to their destination.
keeping as near the coast as possible.
Converse applies TO vessels outward
bound.
BY strict adherence to these routes
the commerce of all countries will be
able to reach its destination in safety
so far as Great Britain is concerned,
but any straying even for a few mile $
from the course thus Indicated NAV be
followed by fatal consequences"