Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-05
RETALIATION BY
ENGLAND EXPECTED
Great Britain Probably Will Declare
Cotton contraband and Shut OF
Supply to Germany, Thus Gripping
Ammunition Manufacturing and
Stopping Operation Of Textile MiiIs-
Many Nations May Protest.


the English channel and the northern
passage by the Shetland islands, is re-
garded here as one of the most serious
developments of the war. 1t was re-
garded as highly possible for one thing
to hasten the movement begun by
the Latin-American countries to meet
to devise means to reduce losses to
neutral commerce.
There was some intimation in ad-
ministration circles that it might be
the subject of protest from the Unit
ed States. but the official view was
that there was little ground for that.
ceandinavia Hit by Decree.
Sweden. Norway, Denmark and Hol-
land have repeatedly addressed the
state department to gain American
backing for measures to relieve dis
tress in their own commerce. and the
latest German proclamation b ex-
pected to cause a redoubled effort Tor
measures to protect themselves.
Councillor Lansing, Of the state de-
partment, took Secretary Bryan's chair
at the cabinet meeting today.
Neither the state department nor the
German embassy had received the lat
est Berlin admiralty statement and 1t
was stated at the German embassy
that the Berlin foreign office probably
would deliver copies to diplomatic rep
notice as sufficient.
Submarines New Factor.
Yesterdays notice was an extentiOn
- A.Sah ahAa aoo
dor Gerard applying to the north and
west coast Of France. 10 = &
* Heretofore subnArine{ have played
no important part In wilrfare and all
the rules In international warfare are
framed with reference to ordinary
ships The rules of prize taking are
clearly set out and established by long
usage. The merchantmen must be
halted, boarded, and either made prize
or sunk. but in the latter case crew
and passengers must be taken of.
Washington Concerned.
While 1t is noticed that the pro-
clamation is directed against "enemy's
ships" and applies to neutral ships only
when the attckks "were meant for en-
emy's ships" thru suspicion Of misuse
of the neutral flags. officials ex-
pressed great concern over the implied
threat to sink merchant ships without
warning.
During consideration OF the subject
by the state department, American
mariners probably will be expected to
heed the warning and enter forbidden
waters only at their own risk. precise
ly what they have been doing in the
North sea, since notices several months
ago from both England and Germany
that owing to the planting Of mines 1t
would be regarded in the war zone.
Notices from London that retaliation
would follow has given rise to much
speculation on the part oe officials as
to what the British have in mind.
Cotton Supplies May Be Stopped.
Altho 1t has been denied that any Of
fetal declaration that food supplies
are contraband has been issued. 1t Is
believed the British notice forecasts
some such declaration. In addition to
trying to cut off Germany's food sup
ply by water, it is believed the British
may prohibit the transportation Of
cotton to Germany.
Cotton is the base Of some forms of
smokeless powder as we'll as the high
explosive gun cotton used In tOrpedoes
and mines Aside from depriving
Germany Of that necessary article. the
British enforcement of such an order
would deal severe blow to the Ger
man textile factories. which are now
beginning to receive normal supplies
from the United States.
Officials did not view the proclama-
ton as a threat to destroy neutral
ships found in the warning zone, but
that all ships entered at their own
risk