Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-02
THE STATEMENT
The state nent follows:

ne stare fneHt follows:
Germany has declared the English
channel, the North and west coasts of
France and the waters around the
British Isles war area, and has Of
fcialy given notice that all enemy
ships found in that area will De de-
stroyed and that neutral vessels may
be exposed TO danger. This is in ef-
feet a claim to torpedo at sight, with
out regard to the safety Of the crew
or passengers any merchant vessel un-
der any flag.
"as it is not in the power Of the
German admiralty to maintain any
tacks can only be delivered by sub
marine agency. The law and Gus
toms of nations in regard to attacks
on commerce have always presumed
that the first duty of the captor Of a
merchant vessel is to oring It before
prize court where it may be tried,
where requiarities of the capture may
be challenged, and where neutrals may
recover their cs-qoes. The sinking OF
prizes is in itself e questionable act,
| to be resorted to only in extraordinary
| circumstances and after provision has
been made for tire safety Of al crews
am passengers. II there are passen-
! gers aboard, the responsibility of dis
eliminating between neutral and enc
my vessels and between neutral and
enemy carooes obviously rests with
the attacking SKIP. whose duty, it IS
to verify the status and character of
the vessel end cereo and to preserve
: Ill b1$o eiHt ttrv,
the ship. So also the humane duty
CT providing FOR the safety of crews
Of merchant vessels, whether neutral
or enemy, is an obligation o. every
be!ligsrent.
at is upon this basis that all pre-.
vious discussions OF the law for reeu.
latinp warfare at sea have proceeded.
The German submarine. however, fui.
! fills meme Of these obligations. She en-
| lows no icca command OF tho waters
! in which she operates. She does not
| take her ttrtures within the jurisaic
ton OF a prize court. She carries no
prize crew which she can put on board
prizes. She has no effective means Of
discriminating between neutral and
an enemy vessel. She does net receive
OF bOdI0 SalO4y tf!S SfV~ anu pas
seneers Of vessels she sinks. Her
methods of warfare are therefore en-
tireiy outside the scope Of the any in
ternationaI instruments regulating
operations against commerce in time
OF war. Tho German declaration SUBJ
sttutes indiscriminate destruction for
regulated capture. Germany is adept
ing these methods against peaceful
traders and nom combatant crow with
the svowed object Of preventing the
commodities Of all kinds including food
for the civil population from reaching
or leaving the British Isles or northern
France.
"Her opponents are therefore driven
to frame retaiiatory measures in order
ia their turn to prevent commodities
Of any kind from reaching or leaving
Germany. These measures will, how
ever be enforced by the British and
French governments without risk to
neutral ships or to neutral or non COM
hatcnt life and in strict observance Of
the dictates Of humanity. The British
and French governments will there
fcre hold themselves free to aetain and
take into port ships carrying goods Of
presumed enemy destination, owner.
ship or origin. Il is not intended to
eonf;seate such vessels or cargoes un-
less they would otherwise be liable to
condemnation. The treatment Of ves-
sells and earsoes which have sailed be-
fore this date will not be affected.
"That is our reply"
The reading Of the statement was in
terrupted frequently with loud cheers.
Admiral Lord Charles 6eresford in.
vited the Premier to state whether
Germans who engaged in submarine
attacks or raids on unfortified towns
and were captured would be tried for
murder. MIR. Asquith declined to give
any definite assurance, but he said:
mo doubt the government will take
into serious consideration what is ths
status under international law Of
persons engaged in this campaign" :.