Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-27
Gen1an Army Reported Crushed BY Russians in Poland

hitherto exercised by the belfigercnts
Of coalinG in neutral ports, or the Is
suance of only Il sufficient quantity OF
coal to enable u belligerent vessel to
reach tho nearest port of another
country.
Already some OF tho powers of Eu-
rope have been sounded OH the provi-
sions. and 1t is understood Great Brit
ain IL ready to deny her warships entry
to Central and South American ports
to coal If the United States approves
the proposal and other bell,gcrcnts
agree. r. 80 -
Attitude OF ENGLAND
GIVES ENCOURAGEMENT
While many diploma is believe re-
striction OF coaling privileges alone
would not be effective In keeping bell
ligerent warships from American wa
tiers, tho fact that England looked with
favor on measures that would assist
the South American countries in pre-
serving their neutrality and restoring
their trade has been 4 source OF much
encouragement to diplomatists here.
Tho entire movement is us yet In a
formative state. and depends largely
for its progress on the attitude of tho
United States toward II. Those In q
position to know tho preliminary opin-
iops expressed by high officials of the
American government In early stages
OF the negotiations learned that the
United States was particularly anxious
to take no step which might impair
It's influence with any OF the bellig-
erents In the eventual settlement of
the European war. South American
diplomats, realizing this, have sought
to. find some common ground on which
to act. so That tangible and practical
results Will be obtained without en-
barrassing the neutrals in their rela-
tions with the belllgerents.
The position of the South American
countries, as voiced by representatives
here, is one of earnest, serious effort
TO assert their rights as neutrals.
Their trade has suffered, and they feel
they are the innocent victims OF n con-
fiict which they could not have pro-
vented. With the very economic life
OF the South American nations threat
ened by the rupture OF trade connec-
tons with Europe, the Latin countries
are looking to the United States for
capital to promote domestic enter
prises. and they believe the develop
ment of their industries by foreign In
forests Will not come until Pan-Ameri-
can trade has been given protection.
The idea that neutral zones may be
established within which ships of all
nations may move unmolcsted Is IN ex-
tension of the original principle OF in
tcrnational law which fixed three miles
as the territorial limit of nation.
This distance was agreed on because
1t was the range of guns In use when
the principle was established.
Since then the range of guns has
extended to more than twenty miles
and the wireless has introduced n now
mems of controversy over breaches OF
neutrality. The countries which favor
the establishment OF neutral zonc
argue that an extension of territorial
waters to 100 or even 600 miles from
the coast Is nm inherent right of Il
sovereign nation.
DENIAL OF COAL WOULD
HARDLY DE ADEQUATE
The proposal to deny coal to war
ships. some South American diplomats
think. would hardly be adequate. az
much more difficulty is being expert
enccd in preventing merchant ships
from conling men-of-war at sea. Tho
idea, also, of giving n wnrship only
enough coal TO reach n port of the
nearest foreign country would not seri-
ously affect the ability OF tho belliger-
ents to coal their vessels. Already
Colombia, which was not signatory to
The Hague convention, has ordered
that, instead OF giving n vessel enough
coal to reach the nearest home port,
| supplies be sold to enable them to
make only the port OF an adjacent
country. This. however, has resulted
from the desire OF Colombia to restrict
/ tho expectation OF coal of which she
has only II limited production.
The calling OF conferences through
the governing board Of the Pan-Amer-