The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-02-12

Food ship to Germany Is Stop
ped at Falmouth.
TEST OF COKTRABAND ORDER
Cargo Declared to Be for Civilian Pop.
ulation but Status Complicated by
German Government Taking Over
All Food - Administration Tells
Britain II Disapproves Flying Flag.

All Food - Administration Tells
Britain 1t Disapproves Flying Flag.
Washington, Feb. 1O--A London dis.
patch to a New York newspaper says
that the Wilhelmina was seized OF
Falmouth by the British.
1t is generally understood that the
shipment OF food stuffs by the viii
helmina is to furnish a test case TO
determine whether the British govern.
ment can stop American vessels from
entering German ports bearing food
products.
Is has been contended that food
stuffs for the use Of civilians only
would not be classified as contTaband
of war. Subsequent to the sailing Of
the Wilhelmina the German govern
ment announced its intention OF saiz.
int al food products in Germany,
whereupon Great Britain declared all
food products to be contraband
There is possibility that the
American commission for relief in
Belgium will be successful in its eff
forts to purchase the steamer Will
helmina and her cargo of supplies.
The owners of the steamer and of the
cargo are said to be willing to sell
U. S. Disapproves Flag Use.
Washing ton, Feb. 10.-The United
States government will take up with
Great Rrito IN fbo eub;oo+ 30 ,lo 100
by British vessels of the American
flag without proper authority. A
statement of the views of this gov
eminent in this matter has been pre-.
pared at the state department for pre-,
seLtation to Great Britain The com.
Dunication will in no sense merit the
term protest, but will be a most tenn.
perate explanation of the reasons Why
the United States government can not
view with entire complacency the
prospect of a general use of the Amer.
lean flag by British vessels for the
purpose of avoiding destruction by
the naval forces of Germany.
At the White House It was made
clear that President Wilson recog.
niZes the fact that it is and has long
been customary for a vessel flying the
flag Of BELLS erent power to assume
the flag of neutral when menaced by
enemy ships. 1t Is also fully conceded
by the administration that there is
nothing in the accepted practices OF
international law nor in the record Of
the United States warranting any no.
ton in a protest to Great Britain N
the case OF the Lusitania or Of other
possible instances in the future bur
the president does take the view.
however, that these facts do not nee
esscrily constitute any bar to the
Tilted States making representations
to Great Britain in the matter so the
British government mag understand
just how the matter is regarded by
tLis government in all the existing
extraordinary circumstances.
Endangers American Shipping.
The communication which will be
sent to Great Britain will therefore
explain at some length the reasons
why 1t is felt that encouragement Of
the use of the American flag by bel.
l'gerent vessels will tend to endanger
bona fide American shipping by les.
sering the value of the American flag
as outward evidence of the character
o: vessel. 1t Il pointed out that the
question of tie misuse of the flag
must be considered first in connection
with the German charge that Great
Britain has instructed her shipping to
adopt this practice, and second. IN
junction with the German govern.
ment's proclamation Of a new war
zone with the hint of DANGER to neu.
trel vessels. The extraordinary st.
uation created by the Lusitania inci-
dent comirg directly after the German
charge and proclamation warrant this
government, officials here believe, III
bringing the matter to the attention
OF Great Britain.
It Is understood that the American
communication will go no further than
requesting that the British govern.
ment does not encourage its shipping
to use the American flag in view of
all the circumstances and .he FEELINGS
o. the United States in the matter