The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-06
CALL DECREE FUTILE.
british shippers Determined to
carry on business.

Special cable Despdfch 10 TIE Son.
LONDON. Feb. 5.-Indlgnation at what
is called here the "callous brutality" of
Germanys threat to sink merchant yes
sells Is probably more than balanced by
the derisive futility OF the blockade
proclamation.
The attitude Of tho press IL crystal
lized in a newspaper cartoon represent
ing n cat watching a mouse hole from
which protrudes the head of a mouse
who is saying: III you don't 90 away
| will bite you"
Nevertheless. tho destructive power
Of Germany's improved submarines the
, number OF which is unknown. IL not
ignored and there will undoubtedly be
victims This however. does not per-
turb ship owners, who are confident
that anything approaching an effective
blockade is impossible.
"Sailings as usual n the universal
declaration In shipping quarters. The
Cunard, White Star, Union Castle, Ley
land and other prominent lines, while
recognizing the probability Of increased
aud ruthless Interference. say that
traffic arrangements will not he affected
in the slightest, since It Is not merely
question of business. but an absolute
necessity to the welfare OF the nation
that sailings continue. whatever the risk
may be-
Tho officials profess to have every
confidence that the navy will handle the
situation adequately and will continue
to afford the merchant vessels the pro-
lection which has been given fully since
the war began. The agents Of Dutch
and scandinavian lines here are equally
determined to carry on their business
/ At Lloyds the outlook Ia calm and
rates have been changed only slightly
| To-day coastwise premiums were un-
altered. Business circles generally con-
cur In the view OF the shippers.
/ one Of the first questions that oc-
CURED ~ the mind OF every Briton on
learning Of Germans threat was what
| will America say?" Cahled extracts
arc prominently printed here. furnish
the answer which was generally ex-
pected.
/ The Government IL treating the situa-
ton with seriousness and an official
statement ls expected within A short
time. The Westminster Gdsette, which
/ generally expresses the views OF the
/ Cabinet. infers that the German people
are suffering more from the pressure
Of our sea power than We have hitherto
realized The paper adds
The same effort for the past I'VE
months has been made continuously
against our warships and transports with
results that have been almost nil From
the military point OF view, II the Ger
mans turn from legitimate war 10 the
threat Of piracy II is merely because in
legitimate war they have had no sue
cess. The use Of submarines against
British merchantmen will no more in
fuence the Admiralty 10 scatter the fleet
for supposed security against these sea
raiders than did German mines and
Zeppelins or the raids on undefended
coast townA"
The Times says the insertion by the
German Bundesrath In the Foreign Of
fice's contraband statement OF a clause
seeking 10 exclude imported wheat and
-four from the operation OF the decree
taking over wheat and -four In Germany
Is fraud Intended to cause bad blood
between Great Britain and the United
States.
Dispatches from Berlin show that the
press Of Germany welcomes the estab-
lishment OF the submarine blockade with
the utmost satisfaction. All say II Is a
blockade in the strict sense Of the term
ana must ne so considered. The 4 o.rd-
post says:
Neutral shipping is given time 20 take
refuge In safe harbors. Only after a
measured period do all merchantmen
going 20 and from the British Isles run
into danger. Then, to he sure. men and
freight, not only on British ships. but
under neutral nag. are doomed &c
sink"
Tho Taonsche RVndschas warns al
nations In these words:
'Tet him guard himself who feels like
coming between US"