The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-18

stomach. lOc and 25c per box. All
druggists.
The Olive Tablet Company, Colum.
hus. O.-Adv.
transportation of provisions into Eng
land from Denmark until to-day, though
she was well able, by her sea forces, to
prevent IT.. In distinction to this
attitude, England has not even 'hesi.
tated at a second infringement of in
ternational law if by such means she
could paralyze the peaceful commerce
of Germany with neutrals. The German
government will be the less obliged to
enter into details, as these are put
uown sufhelently, though not exhans-
lively in The American note to the
British government dated December 2S,
as result of five months experience.
All these. encroachments have been
made as has been admitted, in order to
cut off all supplies from Germany and
thereby starve her peaceful civil popu-
lation-a procedure contrary to all
humanitarian principles. Nentrals have
Deen unable to prevent the Interrupt
tion of their commerce with Germany
winch is contrary to international laws
sA6oA@Aos 1lcdt oIlG8lu
"The American government. as Ger.
many readily acknowledges. protested
against the British procedure. In
spite of these protests and protests
from other neutral states, Great Britain
Gould not be induced to depart from
the course of action she had decided
upon.
Thus, for instance, the American
4
ey the British, although her cargo was
destined solely for the German civil
population and, according to the ex-
press declaration of the German gov
ernment, was to be employed only for
this purpose.
Germany is as good as cut off from
her overseas supply by the silent or
protesting toleration of neutrals, not
only In regard to such goods as are
absolute contraband, but also in regard
TO such as, according to acknowledged
law, before the wal, are only condition.
al contraband or not contraband at all.
Great Britain, on the other hand, is,
with the federation of neutral govern
ments, not only supplied with such
goods as areN not contraband or only
conditional contraband, but with goods
which are regarded by Great Britain,
II sent to Germany, as absolute contra.
band; namely, provisions, industrial
raw materials, etc., and even with
goods which have always Individually
been regarded as absolute eontraband.
The Traffic in Arms
4 The German government feels it,
self obliged to point out with the
greatest emphasis that traffic in.
arms, estimated at many hundreds of
millions, is being carried on between
American firms and Germany s enemies.
Germany fully c0mprehends that the
practice of right and the liberation of
wrong on the part of neutrals are mat
ters absolutely at the discretion of neu-
trails. and involve no formal violation
of neutrality. Germany, therefore,
did not complain of any formal viola
tion of neutrality, but the German gov
ernment, in view of the evidence before
it, cannot help pointing out that it.
together with the entire public opinion
of Germany, feels itself to be severely
prejudced by the fact that neutrals. in
safeguarding their rights in legitimate
commerce with Germany, according to
international law, have, up to the pres
ent, achieved no, or only insignificant,
results, while they are making unlimit-
ed use of their right by carrying on
contraband traffic with Great Britain
and our other enemies.
I Explains Rights of Neutrals
60 If it is a formal right of neutrals
to take no steps to protect their le-
gitimate trade with Germany, and
even to allow themselves to be in
fuenced in the direction cf the con-
scious and wilful restriction of their
trade, on the other hand, they have the
perfect right, which they unfortunately
: do not exercise, TO cease contraband'
trade, especially in arms, with Ger
many enemies.
''In view of this situation, Ger
many, after SIX months of patient wait
Ting, sees herself obliged to answer
Great Britain s murderOus method of
naval warfare with sharp counter
:. measures. If Great Britain in her fight
against Germany summons hunger as
an ally, for the purpose of imposing
upon civilized people of seventy mil
lions the choice between destitution
and starvation or submission to Great
Britain's commercial will, then Ger
many to-day is determined to take up
the gauntlet and appeal to similar al.
lies.
Asks Measure of liberation
! Germany trusts that the neutrals
who so far have submitted to the dis
advantageous consequences of Great
! Britain's hunger war, in silence or
mostly in registering protest, will
display towards Germany no smaller
measure of liberation, even il German
measures, like those of Great Britain,
| present new terrors of naval warfare
Moreover, the German government
is resolved to suppress with all the
means atits disposal the Importation of
war material to Great Britain and her
allies, and she takes it for granted
that neutral governments, which so
far have taken no steps against the
traffic in arms with Germany 3 ene-
mics, will not oppose forcible suppress
sion by Germany of this trade.
Naval War Zone Proclaimed
Acting from this point of view,
the German Admiralty proclaimed a
naval war zone, whose limits it exactly