The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-02
BRITAIN TO STOP
Cconunusa Prom hrs, P.g.I


chainE for reprisals against the sink
ing of the merchant craft by subma-
rlnss.
The British Statement.
The decision OF the British govern
ment TO adopt retaliatory measures
against Germany was set forth In a
formal statement which Premier A.
quith read In the House OF Commons.
The Premier prefaced the reading OF
the statement with these words:
The statement declares In sum
GENTLY plain and unmistakable terms
the view we take. not only OF our
rights. but our duties"
The statement Is as follows:
Germany has declared the English
channel. the north and west coasts of
France and the waters around the
British Isles a war area. and has OF
hcially given notice that all enemy
ships found in that area will be de
stroyed and that neutral vessels NAV
be exposed to danger. This is. In ef-
feet. claim 10 torpedo at sight. with
out regard to the safety OF the crew or
passengers, any merchant vessel I'M
der any flag As n Is not In the power
OF the German admiralty 60 maintain
any surface craft In these waters, the
attack can only be delivered by sub
marine agency. The law and customs
Of nations I'm regard to attacks on
commerce have always presumed that
the first duty OF the captor OF a mer-
chant vessel is bringing II before a
prize court. where Il may be tried,
and where regularities OF the capture
may be challenged and where neu-
trails may recover their cargo. The
sinking of prizes Is in itself ques-
tionable act. to be resorted to only In
extraordinary circumstances and after
provision has been made for the safe
~ OF all crews and passengers.
Attackers Responsible.
~ n al
ing between neutral and enemy yes
sells and between neutral and enemy
cargoes obviously rests with the at
lacking ship. whose duty II IS to YER
ify the status OF the vessel and cargo
and TO preserve all papers before sink
ing OF capturing the ship. So also
tho humane duty to provide for the
safety of crews Of merchant vessels.
whether neutral or enemy. Ia an obli-
CATION on every belligerent.
II is upon this basis that all pre-
vious discussions OF law for regulat-
ing warfare have proceeded. The
German submarine fuliils none OF
these obligations She enjoys no To-
cal command OF the waters wherein
she operates. She does not take her
captures within the Jurisdiction OF a
prize court. She carries no prize
crew which can be put aboard prizes
which she seizes. She uses no effect
i've means Of discriminating between
neutral and enemy vessels She does
not receive on board for safety the
crew OF the vessel she sinks. Her
methods OF warfare therefore are en-
tirely outside the scope Of any inter
national instruments regulating oper-
atoms against commerce in time OF
war.
lndiseriminate Destruction.
The German declaration substI-
tutes indiscriminate destruction for
regulating captures Germany has
adopted this method against the
peaceful trader and the non-combat-
ant with the avowed object OF pre-
venting commodities OF all kinds. in.
Guiding food for the civilian popula-
ton. from reaching or leaving the
British Isles or northern France.
Her opponents are therefore driven
10 frame retaltstOry measures in or
der IN their turn 10 prevent commodi-
ties Of any kind from reaching or
leaving Germany
Those measures will. however. be
enforced By the British and French
governments without risk 10 neutral
Ships or neutral or non -cOmbatant
lives and In strict observation Of tho
dictates OF humanity. The British
ana French governments will there.
fore hold themselves free 20 dptafn
ana "a take into port ships carving
goods Of presumed enemy destination
or origin
Ut DE- not Intended 10 condsrafa
eucn FetEnls or carrops unless thev
would otherwise BE- liable 10 Fs,.. .
ton. Vessels with r arroes which
sailed before this dslc will not be AL
ferfed
That be our reply"