The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-06
WILL CLOSE GERMAN PORTS.
FRENCH AND BRITISH FLEETS
Will NOT ALLOW ENTRANCE
OF ANY COMMODITIES.
Hope to Win War by Starving Teutons
Through Cutting OF All Commerce
by scs-stll Considering American
Proposals Says Premier In State
ment

heets OF Great Britain and France can
prevent II, no commodities of any kind
except those now on the seas. hence
forth until the conclusion of the war
shall reach or leave the shores of
Germany.
This is Ensland's answer to Ger
many's submarine blockade, and Il Is
TO be effective forthwith.
Premier Asquith. reading from a
prepared statement. made the an
nouncement In the house OF commons
today at q session which will be his
torie. studiously avoiding the terms
blockade and "contraband" - for
these words occur nowhere in the pre-
pared statement--the premier explain
cd that the allies considered them
selves justified In attempting. and
would attempt. ito detain and take
into port ships carrying goods Of pre-
sumed enemy destination. ownership
or origin"
The premier emphasized, however.
that vessels and carsoes SO seized
were not necessarily liable to confisca-
ton and begged the patience Of neu
tral countries In the face OF a step
likely to injure them. He added that
the measure had been adopted by the
allies I'm seif-defense.
We are quite prepared" he went
on. to submit to the arbitrament of
neutral opinion. and still more TO the
verdict OF Impartial history that In the
circumstances In which we have been
placed We have been moderate; we
have been restrained from things that
We were provoked and tempted to do,
and We have adopted a policy which
eommends itself to reason. to common
sense and to Justice"
Every member OF the house not at
the 'front.' or unavoidably detained
was An his seat and there was fre-
auent cheering. The galleries were
packed. When the premier concluded
his set statement. and. turning to the
speaker said, THAT. sir, Is our reply"
Immediately there was T. tremendous
outburst.
Cnriousiy. the German reply 10 the
American note seeking to solve tho
situation growing out or Germany's
declaTatlon OF naval war zone was
handed 10 Ambassador Gerard at Bsr-
lin today and Premier Asauith, In his
speech. said that Great Britain and
her allies were still considering care
fully the American note to them on
the same subject. That the British
government had rejected the proposal,
no declared. was quite untrue"
The tremendous cost of modern
warfare. which the premier estimated
now st s7.5oo.ooo daily to the allies
alone and likely to grow TO $500, 900
or more by April. was the theme of
that part OF the address not dealing
with the blockade. The premier gave
these figures In asking for a supple
mentary vote OF credit. making a total
OF N.s1o.ooo.o00 to prosecute the
war to March 81. 1915. which the
house unanimously granted.
The entire struggle with Napoleon
cost England only about ss.155.o .ooo,-
900 and the South African war only
u.o5s.ooo.ooo. according to Mr.. As
.quith.
Before the premier had finished the
newspapers were on the streets pro-
claiming Our Answer to Germany"
In big. letters. and II was apparent
everywhere that tho entire nation had
been chafing for reprisals against the
sinking OF merchant craft by subma-
rines.
The statement Is as follows:
Germany has declared that the
English channel. the north and west
coasts of France and the waters
around tho British Isles are a war
area. and has officlally notified that
-" ~sNs't ''ah' hOuild that urea
would be destroyed and that neutral
vessels may be exposed to danger.
This is In effect n claim TO torpedo at
sight. without regard to the safety Of
the crew or passengers. any merchant
vesse under any flag. As 1t is not In
the power OF the German admiralty
TO msintain any surface craft In these
waters this attack can only be deliv-
cred by submarine agency.
The law and customs OF nations
In regard to attacks on commerce
have always presumed that the duty
of the captor of a merchant vessel is
TO bring II before a prize court where
IL may be tried. where the regularity
OF the capture may be challenged and