The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-02-24
MUST SECURE FOOD
GERMANS SAY ENGLAND has No
RIGHT TO STAgVE THEM.
WILL PROTECT HERSELF

Having Called Ensland's Attempt to
Starre Civilians to Neutral Powers
ana Having Received no Favorable
Action, German Submarines W'iD
Retaliate.
Germany's purpose in declaring
sea zone around the British Isles IS
explained at length in a statement
made by Admiral Behncke Of the ma
rine department and transmitted to
Lieut.. Commander Walter R. Cher
ardt, naval attache Of the American
embassy. It is given out officially as
follows:
up to the present time Germany
3 in the war at sea has followed the
London declaration or the stipula-
tions Of the Paris treaty on which the
conduct Of war on the, sea mad been
based before the London declaration.
I'm waging this commercial war
fare England had in view the sub
jugation of Germany by starvation.
Germany in every way had sought to
bring to the attention OF the neutral
powers and ell others the necessity
she was under to obtain food for her
civilian population, which was her
right under the laws Of war. No re-
suits could be obtained from her ef-
forts.
"Since the shutting of Of food sup
plies had now come to {. point where
Germany no longer had sutlcier,
food to feed her people, it b.. anne
necessary for her to bring England to
terms through force. Germany knows
that by the use of the submarine
England can be placed in position
where food will be lacking. Her life
as nation and the lives Of her peo-
pie depend on putting this campaign
into action and she T-ust o. so.
1.-THE difficulties in the way Of this
campaign have been largely connect
ed with the care which it is desired
to give to neutral ships and to the
lives Of those on board all CONNER
cial ships, whether neutral or belong
ing to the enemy.
First, in arming her merchant
ships with guns for self-defense, Eng
land adopted a policy against which
Germans strongly protest. The Unit
ed States took the British point OF
view. Submarines can not approach
British merchant ships and make eS-
aminations without exposing them
selves.
Second, England has advised her
merchant feet 10 fly neutral flags, to
cover up names and change stacks to
escape the consequences Of their ma
tionahty. This plan was designed to
bring Germany into conflict with 9th
er nations.
Germany does not wish to harm
American or other neutral ships o.
their cargoes unless carrying contra
band. She is, however, in a position
where her life depends upon her put.
ting into effect the only means she
has os saving herself. She must and
z viii use this means.
eCommanding officers OF subnaa-
rines have been ordered to make
every effort to safeguard neutrals. In
spite of the precautions, the possibil-
ity was noted that neutra! ships
through error or attack might be de-
stroyed. For this reason a strong
warning was issued.
.In addition, the English coast he's
been mined by the British themselves
for protective reasons, and would Dc
mined by the Germans as an act o.
offensive warfare. Ships were there
fore in danger from mines.
I'm spite Of the great effect the
admiralty staff felt the use Of the
submarines viii have in bring ging the
war to a rapid close, the admiralty dc
not wish to put it into effect to the
detriment of neutral commerce ano
the rights of nations on t. high
seas. They therefore have stated that
IL Great Britain will abide by the
Declaration Of London or by the
Treaty Of Paris, whereby food sup
plies for the civil population can be
freely brought into Germany, the
whole matter of a submarine block
ade Will be dropped by Germany.
Admiral Behncke called Command
er Gherardt's attention to the fac,
that when Great Britain closed the
North Sea she did not give free pas
sage to American ships bound foc the
neutral country of Holland, but COM
PEELED the ships to pass through GER
tain channels, take IN English pilot
aboard and undergo a search for con-
traband of war at the hands Of OH
GERS Of British warships.
Admiral Behncke then said that
Germany was prepared to suggest TO
the United States an even freer ana
safer method of passage for Anerl-
can ships bound either through the
channel or to English ports-nameiy
that several American warships
should wait in some port on the
southwest coast Of Ireland, and when
communicated with by wireless by an
American merchantmen one should
proceed to the place indicated anc
convoy the merchantmen through
that portion Of the sea which Ger
many, following the example OF Great
Britain, has declared to be dangerous.
"Of course" said the admiral,
..ships under convoy, by the rules 9t
international law, are not subject TO
search, but the country to which they
belong is bound, upon lts nonor' as L
were, to see that they do not carry
contraband Of war.
american wsrships have distinc-
tive masts and either by night or day
they and vessels conveyed would be
respected by German submarines.
"This is safe method to follow
3 for American ships which desire to
enter those portions Of the seas pro-
claimed dangerous by Germany, and
differs only from the rule adopted by
Great Britain with reference to Amer
lean ship passing through the chan
mel in that American ships instead Of
being compelled to enter a British
port take {. BritiSh pilot and be
searched by officers Of q British war
ship, would be PERMITTED to pass IN
nolested to their destination without
bo;,o cy,biorfoS to search the imDe-