The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-02-09

H"'AOH ID CoIlSIuCFCO as a VlOiauOn Oh |
international law, as a device both
fraudulent and injurious to the honor
OF state. Both the state whose
flag is W~rOngfully used and that in
regard to which the use OF the false
flag is made have the RICH to demand
the punishment Of the guilty persons.
NO STATUTE TO FORBID |
Examination of the statutes of the |
United States rcveals that there is no
law prohibiting misuse Of the Ameri-
can flag by foreign vessels, though the
State Department has in the past Or |
dercd its cOnSuls always to commune |
cate full Information as to sue Incl
dents.
Upon the outbreak of war with
Chile in 1879 Peru inquired of the
United States II conditions must be
complied with in order that a mcrch-
ant vessel might be considered as be-
longing to the United States and
under what conditions the United
States flag might be used.
The American legation in Peru sent
a note in reply which was supplement-
cd by a memorandum from the Secre-
tary OF State, MIR. Evarts. who said
that there is no prohibition Of the
use of the American flag by a foreign
vessel beyond the jurisdiction of the
United States. or any penalty provided
therefor
No Neutral Seas in Zone.
Washington, D.. c., Feb. 6.-Ger-
in the waters surrounding Great
Britain n ireland, does not as at
first reported, include any seas ad-
%jacent to neutral countries.
The official text of the proclamation,
received today from Ambassador Ger
ard. reveals that only areas directly
bordering on the territorial waters OF
France and Great Britain are held to
be in the zone where neutral vessels
may be subject to the hazards of nava1
warfare. The original wireless repor,
: stated that the waters north of the
Shetland Islands, in the eastern basiT
Of the North Sea and for thirty
:. nautical miles along the Dutch coas
= also had been included in the zone.
:, The official text says expressly tha
: the routes of navigation around tn
north Of the Shetland Islands in tn
eastern part Of the North Sea and in
!, strip thirty miles wide along the Dutcl
: coast are not open to the danger zone
Neutral Zone Prescribed.
n State Department officials sent
= message inQuiring if there vas no
some error in translation Of the las
phrase mot open to the danger zone,
but they aid later they had no doub
the Decentralization Of these water
a meant they were the suggested route
for neutral ships and that shipping t
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and HOl
70 land would not be affected.
Arrival tonight Of the unofficial tex
Of the German memorandum by wire
less to Sayville confirmed the view c
Sc officials that neutral coasts were nc
nt included and cleared up all doubts a
40 to the accuracy Of Ambassador Ger
no ards earlier message.
The text of the proclamation as re
- ceived at the State Department rea(
as follows:
T waters around Great Britain
" including the whole of the Englis
channel are declared hereby to be IL
Guided within the zone of war an
~ that after February Is all eneTny me
chant vessels encountered in these W:
az tiers will be destroyed, even if it ma
IA not be possible always to save the
III crews and passengers.
{" British Use Neutral Flags?
within this war o neutral We
o sells are exposed to danger since
70 view Of the misuse of the neutr
nc flags ordered by the government
Great Britain on January 81 and
ne the hazards Of naval warfare, neutr
IN vessels cannot always be prevent
from suffering from the attacks i
tended for enemy ships.
1.-THE routes Of navigation aroul
ais the north of the Shetland Islands
Ort the eastern part of the North Sea a.
he in a strip thirty miles wide along t
in Dutch coast are not open to the dan
ipt err zone"
re- Acting Secretary Lansing in a stat
ment containing the proclamati
m said:
mr. 1.-THE German foreign office sent
ire the Ambassador q long memoranda
by explanatory OF TINS procla maIloh.
INT May serll! o!aaractcI ohlp7.
terest the explanatory memorand
-, referred TO, for if it outlines measul
NJ which German naval commanders "
are take to verify the real character
sht vessels flying neutral flags and assu1