Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-05
Washington Regards 1t
One OF Most Serious
Acts OF the War
NO AMERICAN PROTEST
England Reported to be Prepar-
ing for Prompt Counter
Stroke, However.

BERLIN. FEB. 5-THE ADMIRAL
~ TO-DAY ISSUED THE FOLLOW
fEGs ENGLAND IS ON THE EVE
o. SHIPPING NUMEROUS TROOPS
AND WAR MATERIAL TO FRANCE.
AGAINST THESE ENGLISH TRANS
PORTS We WILL PROCEED WITH
A. MEANS OF WsFARE AT OUR
DISPOSAL NEUTRAL SHIPPING
IS CAUTIONED AGAINST kP-
PPOaCHiNG The NoRTHESN OR
WESTERN COASTS OF FRANCE"
Washington. d. g.. Feb. Ser
r,ayF declaration OF a naval war
-1ae around the British Isles Is re-
rzrte1 here as one cr the most ser
t1rs developments Of the war. u Is
REGARDED highly possible. for one thing.
tr-t '- vg1 hasten the movement be-
gun 1y La-in-Amerfcan countries for
d speedy conference Of neutral states
fB devise means 20 reduce losses to
natural commerce 10 minimum
ff has developed there % little OF no
zr1urd for protest by the United
states. 60 being recalled no protest
was made when the North Sea was
strruu with mines. There O. no pre-
cadeut ln dealing with the question.
ra heretofore submarines have played
90 important part in warfare.
Wtue the proclamation was direct /
90 aEniust enemy ships and applies
to neutral ships only when attacks |
were meant for enemy ships
through suspicion 81 misuse OF neutral .
Tags. officials expressed grave con }
ceru over the implied threat 10 sink /
merchant vessels without warning or
taxing OF Of n0u-cCrnbatant passengers 7
crews
During consideration or the subject .
bv the state department American I
mariners probably viii be expected To T.
heed the German warning and enter
f1-b ddnu waters only az their ovu
risk.
England - Preparing
London. FEB. 5-A1thouEh referring
Elrcasticauy TO Germany's threat 20
bottle Up the British isles. by means
% submarines. as a paper blockade
England VAS stirred today BY this
latest development a. has seldom been
since the outbreak OF hostii.ties. The
press subordiuates all other var news
and there we're ind cations the au-
thorities take the threat as requiring
a. prompt counter stroke
German Press Appiauds.
Berlin. Feb. 5.-The entire German
press Ercet4 with satisfaction the ad-
m m ity's declaration that the waters
sur-o1uding England. Scotland and
Ireland have been included IN the var
zone Headlines Tn several papers
speak Df the announcement as a
blockade.
NeutraI shipping says the Post.
'is given time 90 take refuge in safe
har1ors Then % be sure. men and
freirlt not only on British ships. but
uHdcr ueutra. aass. are doomed %
sint~
The Tagiische Rundschau says:
we have accepted EngIand's battle 4.
cortitious- We viii Jet England play !
.ts role and assume ours win all It's ,
2 =hts and obligations. Let him guard
himself who, feels Ike coming between
ls~
Ships 70 Continue 20 Sail.
New York. Feb. 5.-That the Ger 9
nan admiraIity-g communication de r
riarine waters around Great Britain, I
and Ireland. including the entire Eng I
.ish channel IN the war zone after !
FEB Is. would have no effect on 4
OF steamships between q
New York and British and French
'orts was the general opinion OF rep
'esentatives OF shipping companies
There viii be no suspension OF sail
nss after Feb Is