The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-02-24

LeE L:CISuISS. IL GISdI DllIdlA, IL
her fight against Germany summons
hunger as an ally, for the purpose OF
imposing upon civilized people OF
seventy millions the choice between
destitution and starvation, or sub.
mission to Great Rritain's commercial
will, then Germany is determined tc
take up the gauntlet and appeal to
similar allies.
Germany trusts that the neutrals
who SO far have submitted to the dis
advantages consequences of Great
Britain's hunger war in silenCe, or
merely in registering protest, will
display towards Germany no smaller
measure of federation, even if Ger
man measures, like those Of Great
Britain, present new terrors Of naval
warfare.
Moreover, the German govern
ment is resolved to suppress with all
the means at its disposal, the impor-
tatio1 Of war materials to Great Brit
al! and her allies, and she takes it
fo" granted that neutral governments
w :ch so far have taken no steps
against the traffic in arms with Ger
many's enemies, will not oppose fore
ible suppression by Germany Of this
trade.
Danger to Neutrais.
"Acting from this point of view,
the German admiralty proclaimed a
naval war zone whose limits it exact
ly defined. Germany, so far as pos
sible, will seek to close this war zone
with mines, and will also endeayor to
destroy hostile merchant vessels in
every other way.
while the German government,
in taking action based upon this over
poTering point Of view, keeps itself
far removed from all intentional de-
struction of neutral lives and proper
ty, on the other hand it does not fail
to recognize that from the action to
be taken against Great Britain dan
gers arise which threaten all trade
within the war zone, without distinc-
ton. This is natural result Of mine
warfare, which even under the strict
est observance of the limits of inter-
national law endangers every ship
approaching the mine area.
"The German government consid-
ers itself entitled to hope that all
neutrals will acquiesce in these meas
ures as they have done in the case of
the grievous damages inflicted upon
them by British measures, all the
more so as Germany is resolved, for
the protection Of neutral shipping,
even in the naval war zone, to do
everything which is at all compatible
with the attainment Of this object.
"In view of the fact that Germany
gave the first proof Of her good will
in fixing time limit Of not less than
fourteen days before the execution Of
said measure, SO that neutral ship
ping might have an opportunity of
arrangements to avoid threat
ening danger, this can most surely be
achieved by remaining away from the
naval war zone. Neutral vessels
which, despite this ample notice,
which greatly affects the achievement
Of our aims in our war against Great
Britain, enter these closed waters
will themselves bear the responsible
" for any unfortunate accidents that
may occur. Germany disclaims all
responsibility for such accidents and
Germany has further expressly re-
nounced the destruction Of all mer-
chant vessels, as the United States
seems enormously to have under
stood. This restriction which Ger
many imposes upon himself is. pre-
judicial at the aim of our warfare, es-
pecially as in the application of the
conception of contraband practiced by
Great Britain towards Germany
which conception will now also be
correctly interpreted by Germany
the presumption will be that neutral
ships have contraband aboard. Ger
many naturally is unwilling to re-
nounce its rights to ascertain the
presence OF contraband in neutral
vessels, and in certain cases to draw
conclusions th.refrom.
Measures Of Safety.
Germany is ready, finally, to de-
liberate with the United States con-
corning any measures which might
secure the safety of legitimate ship
ping of neutrals in the war zone. Ger
many can not, however, forbear to
point out that all it's efforts in this
direction may be rendered very diff
cult by two circumstances: First,
the misuse Of neutral flags by Brit
ish merchant vessels, which is indubi-
tably known to the United States:
second. the contraband trade already
especially war materials,
on neutral vessels.
Regarding the latter point, Ger
many would fain hope that the Unit
ed States would come to a conclusion
of real neutrality regarding the first
point. The secret order of the Brit
ism admiralty relating to British
ships using neutral flags, has. been
communicated by Germany to the
United States and confirmed by COM
from the British foreign
office, which designates this proceed
ure rs entirely unobjectionablc and
in accordance with British law. Brit
ish merchant shipping Immediately
followed this. advice as is doubtless
known to the American government
from the incidents Of the Lusitania
and the Laertes.
Moreover. the British government
has supplied arms to British mer-
chant ships and instructed them fore
ibiy to resist German submarines. In
these circumstances it would be very
dificult for submarines to recognize
neutral merchant ships, for search in
most cases can not be undertaken.
seeing that in the use of disguised
British ship from which an attack
NAV be expected. the searching party
and the submarine would be exposed
to destruction.
"Great Britain then wa5 IN a posi-
ton to make the German measures
il!usory if the British merchant fleet
persisted in the misuse OF neutral
~