Evening journal., 1915-02-06
SATURDAY FEB. 6. 1915
GERMANY AND NEUTRAL smIPs.

official declaration counts for anything, Germany
has decided to go the limit in dealing with the
merchant ships of Great Britain and the other Allied
nations. regardless of the safety OF their crews and
passengers. Nor does its policy which, it is az
nounced is to so into effect February 49, stop at
that The merchant ships of the United States and
other neutral nations which venture into The so-called
established by Germany are to be treated
same the merchant ships of the Allies, and neu
tral flags TO serve protection within the pre-
scrbed In other words 1t is the announced pur-
pose to torpedo and sink everything found anoat in
the waters around Great Britain aud ireland includ-
ing the whole English channel, and in strip of at
least thirty nautical miles in breadth along the Dutch
coast regardless OF the TO the lives of the
sailors and passengers such merchant vessels. AS
Germany views it, the ships Of the United states
and other neutral nations must remain out of that
zone take the consequences, not because it is
desired to destroy neutral ships but because. the
German Government says. the British are misusing
neutral flags to protect their merchant ships.
1t would be interesting to know what would happen
IT, following such a decree, German submarine were
to torpedo and sink American steamship and de-
sroy the lives of its passengers and crow. We think
something would be heard from this side of the Allan
tic that would call for interpreter to impress it
upon German understanding. If Germany declares
blockade against Great Britain, ireland, France, Bel
e1um and Holland. she must be ih position 60 en-
force against neuras along lines that come within
the rules OF civilized warfare paper blockade can
moi be made to cover ndiscriminate slaughter OF
non-combatants and neutrals
In view Of this important recent development
in the western war zone Americans and other neu-
trails may find comfort in the following, written by the
naval expert for the London Chronicle;
Germany can fulfill none of the conditions of her
blockade and any attempt however wild, made by
Germans 10 ignore, for example, the American flag
on the strength of their paper blockade would be
hostile act toward the United States. To sink an
American liner with her passengers and crew would be
an arocity that would almost inevitably mean war.
Expressions of opinion in Washington, New York,
Philadelphia and other large American cities indicate
that this country will not recognize such paper
blockade or such policy with respect TO neutral ship
ping Nor is thought that Italy Spain, Norway,
Sweden Holland and the other neutral nations af-
focted will recognize H. OF thing Germany may
rest assured That that there will be serious trouble
If she torpedoes and sinks any American ship that
ventures into the so-caed zone Nor will Ameri-
can sentiment approve an application Of the Won
Trptz policy TO other neutrals and non-combatants.
We imagine that second sober thought will impe
Emperor William and Trptz, his naval chief, not
TO carry their destructive work too far when it comes
to neutral vessels especially TO those that fly the
American flag
Great Britain already is preparing to meet the so
called German blockade. and also considering retail
iatory measures affecting what left of German trade
The situation on both sides should be well shaped NJ
by the time fixed for the socaed blockade to be pu
into effect