New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-05
Prom N. Tribune Bureau

Washington. Feb. 4-Germsny' dec
lsrstion that war zone eKists III SnS
waters surrounding the British Isles
vss received in Washington tonight
"a new evidence Of the state OF despe-
alton 70 which Germany Is rapidly
5rif,inO hecaus- Of the cutting of OF
Ler outside supply of foodstuffs. IL
ia rersrded as new and far broader
proclamation of blockade than any
hing of record in international law
and the enuncistion Of doctrine more
fsrreachjng in it's purpose and pos
sible effect than anything heretofore
promulgated by one belligerent against
N is felt here that the announce
ment OF such policy as Germany mas
outlined will be productive OF an IN
mediate vigorous protest from 'he
United States. The threat thst yer
man naval authorities woul dfeel COM
rnII.d 20 disregard the flags of neu-
trails fying from merchant or psSsen-
~ china because Of the alleged in
etructior bv Great Britain 70 her mer-
cbaptmeu N ~ neutral flags as
"hlind" 10 the German destroyers and
submarines is not acceptable 10 Ameri-
can dirlomatists. who feel that Ger
many Is advancing too far along lines
81 bellirerency 10 be able later 10
Justify her course.
Z the British Embassy y was said
that no information received there in
Sicsted that sny order or suggestion
Rad been issued 70 British merchant
mon that they Az neutral flags for pro
-.ctive purposes At the same time n
was explained that such an order would
smsnste from the Admiralty and not
from the Foreign Once.
Members Of the Senate Foreign Re
lstions Committee placed the declsrs-
ton Of the German Admiralty in the
category Of paper blockades, the valid
itv Of which have never been recog-
nired, and for which there IL no basis
in international law. They regard the
mere warning, or threat OF danger as
no more sufficient. in the way of alb
solving the German government from
responsibility for any harm inflicted
on neutral shipping, than the declsra-
ton of a blockade which - not main
tanned in fact.
The bearing Of Germsny's warning
IN the shin purchase bill was pointed
out by Senator Lodge. ut illustrates,
he said, "the danger that would be con-
fronted BY this country by the opera
ton OF government-own line OF
steamers. A private individual or ship
owner can take his chances. II be-
comes a different matter when the
government is involved. q,
81 should say. without having looked
into the question thoroughly SAID
Senator Hitchcock, member or the
Foreign Relations Committee. that the
declaration of the German Admiralty
that the waters around Great Britain
a.. kn a
zone Is unusual and without precedent.
The warning that neutral ships found
in those waters will also be in danger
will probably evoke protests from the
neutral governments, but ] do not see
that anything can be done about II un-
less they choose 10 go 10 war. This rs
. time when precedents are being made.
II is evidently an effort 10 smut on the
English food supuly.'
Earlier in the day Count Won Bern
storf. the German Ambassador. notihed
the State Department that American
vessels should avoid the north and west
coasts of France, and the department
issued the following statement:
"The department has received tele-
gram from the American Ambassador
at Berlin, dated February 2, stating
that the German Admiralty have issued
a proclamation urgently warning all
vessels not 20 approach the
north and west coasts of France, as 1t
IS the intention Of the German gov
eminent 10 use all the means Of war
which it has at its disposal against
British troop ships and ammunition
shipments 20 France. i
"The German government recommend
hat mechant vessels bound for the |
North Sea take the north Of Scotland 1
This notice is not regarded as for |
nal declaration Of q blockade OF the |
french ports, for II is explained that
n mere presence of submarine ho-
lila and the placing Of mines IN the |
rsde routes would not, lof itself, con
.titute blockade. Ths$sf0Te the State