The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-24
DECLARES BLOCKADE
ALLIES stop NEUTRAL TRADE
WITH The GERMANS
Text OF COUNCIL Order

Definite and Complete Plans are An
nounced by Great Brltain-Intends
to Keep All Shipping Away From
her Neighbor Non-Conraband
Goods to be Purchased.
Great Britain has made known =
the world in a formal proclamation
signed in council by the king, and
issued from Buckingham Palace, how
she proposes to sever the arteries Of
sea commerce to and from Germany
during the war.
The term blockade" Is not used,
and no prohibited area is defined.
Nevertheless, the text of the order
makes plain England's purpose to
prevent commodities of any kind
from reaching or leaving Germany
during the war.
British officials frankly called the
movement a blockade, the foreign Of
fee describing it as an effective block
ade, differing from the effective block
ade Of history only in that the prop
erty seized will not be confscated
outright, but sold, the proceeds even
tually going to the owners.
The last clause Of the proclamation
contains the proposal most interest
ing to neutrals. This Is a fat agree
ment to lift the BLOCKADE" in case
any nation will certify that the ships
flying its flag shall not carry goods
to Germany, or goods originating
therein, or goods belonging to the
subjects of the German empire.
It is notable that the order de-
clares no intention to capture ships
proceeding to and from the countries
of Germany's allies, Austria and Tur-
key, the reason being no doubt, that
the measure is avowedly a reprisaI
against Germany's submarine war
fare.
A Gordon Of ships will be maintain
ed to shut of the commerce OF Ger
man ports and regulate trade IN the
war zone, although ships yoyaging
eastward across the Atlantic, will, it
is expected, be seized before they
reach the North Sea.
When a neutral vessel Is held up,
In all cases, except where there Is a
false declaration of destination, or
other attempt at subterfuge, the car
| 20 only will be seized, provided 1t is
not contraband. A copy OF the order
In council was handed to the Ameri-
can ambassador in London.
The British foreign Office empha-
sizes the fact that wide discretion Is
allowed prize court officials handling
neutral claims and that instructions
will be given these men to act with
the greatest dispatch consistent with
the proper performance Of their tasks
The foreign Office has called atten-
| ton from the first announcement OF
the reprisal policy to the fact that
the regulations are not infeXible
where the rights of neutrals ere con-
cerned.
While the order is absolute insofar
as ships to and from German ports
are concerned, using the word must
| in STIMULATING how goods shall be dis
charged in English ports, the proVi-
sions concerning cargoes destined foT
neutral ports set forth that they
may be required to discharge" at
British ports.
This language Is typical Of the gen.
eral attitude of British officials to-
ward neutral trade. The text OF the
order in council follows:
Whereas, the German government
has issued certain orders which, IN
violation Of the usages Of war, pur'
port to declare that the waters sur
rounding the United Kingdom are a
military area in which all British and
allied merchant vessels will be de.
stroyed irrespective OF the safety and
| the lives of the passengers and the
crews, and, In which neutral shipping
will be exposed to similar danger in
view of the uncertainties Of naTaI
warfare,
| And whereas, In the iemorandunl
accompanying the said orders, neu-
trails are warned again st entrustlns
crews, passengers or guods to British
or allied ships,
And, whereas, such attempts on the
| part Of the enemy to give to MS
majesty an unQuestionable right OF
retaliation,
And, whereas, his majesty has
| therefore, decided to- adopt further
measures in order to prevent COM
] modities of any kind from reaching
or leaving Germany, although such
measures will be enforced without
risk to neutral ships or to neutral or
| non-combatant life and in strict oD'
servance of the dictates of humanity
And, whereas, the allies Of his ma
jesty are associated with him in the
steps now to be announced for re-
stricting further the commerce 81
| Germany, his majesty Is, therfore.
pleased by and with the advice OF his
privy council to order and it IS here
by ordered as follows:
| First. No merchant vessel which
| sailed from her port of departure
| after March /, 1915, shall be allowed
| to proceed on her voyage to any Ger
man port. Unless this vessel receives
| a pass enabling her to proceed 10
some neutral or allied port to be nam
ed In the pass, the goods on board
any such vessel must be discharged
in a British port and placed in Gus
tody of the marshal Of the prize court.
| Goods so discharged, if not contra
! band, shall, if requisitioned for the
use Of his majesty, be restored by
| order of the court and upon such
terms as the court may in the cir
cumstances deem to be just to the
person entitled thereto.
Second. No merchant vessel which
sailed from any German port after
March /, 1915, shall be allowed to
proceed on her voyage with any goods
on board laden at such ports. All
goods laden at such port must be dis
charged in a British or allied port.
Goods so discharged in British port
shall be placed in the custody OF the
marshal of the prize court, and If not
requisitioned for the use of his majes-
ty shall be detained or sold under the
direction of the prize court.
The proceeds Of the goods so sold
yS1