Evening star., 1915-06-13
American Foodstufs for Warning Nations of Eur0p

being that preservation of nation and
SELF is natures first law
during the civil war, certain traders
from England consigned large num-
pers of goods of so peaceable a nature
as rifles, sabers. Blakely cannons. gray
the peaceful countries of Bermuda.
Nassau, Mexico and other neutral
places near the Confederate states
where they were to be transshipped to
smaller swift vessels and on a favor
able night run through the blockade.
Against the strenuous protests of Eng
land, our war vessels, with view to
prevention, captured the carrying ves-
sells. on the theory that the ultimate
destination of these goods was the
Confederate states. that the tranship-
ment WITS only break in continuous
voyage. and that as the goods were
contraband they were liable to capture
whenever and wherever they could be
taken on the high seas. Against this
action the English objected strenuous
ly, claiming an absolute right to trade
as 1t pleased with any neutral port.
The United States with the utmost
and prolonged delibera ton threw the
cases into prize court and proceeded
to the determination Of the case with
the greatest possible dila.oriness,
meanwhile detaining vessel and cargo
where the arms could do no damage.
and the ships would not be strained
trying to run at too great speed
through the blockade.
In most cases, appeals were taken to
the United States Supreme Court, where.
owing to the congested condition of
the calendar, there was more delay.
nj fo decision
the goods were forfeited and the ves-
sci was released, but for some reason
or other there was no damage award
ed for the detention of the ships. The
Springbok and the Julia, but there
were many others.
Although protests were made against
these decisions, they were finally ac-
cepted There was, however, in these
decisions no denial of the right OF
neutral to trade with neutral in ma
terial which belligerent had declared
to be contra band of war; it estabi1shed
only that where the character or the
goods showed that their ultimate des-
tination was the territory OF oeiheer-
ent. the latter might disregard the fact
of transshipment and lawfully con
slider the trip from the first port to the
last as one voyage and seize the con-
traband goods wherever found.
Goods contraband of war are or two
only for purposes of war, such as arms
and ammunition; the other, called con-
ditional contra band, is such material
as may be used for peaceful purposes,
such as shoes or food. but which is
destined for the use of the army or
navy. or for other warlike purpose
Ordinarily food has not been CONSIDERED
contraband of war. unless sent directly
to the military force or to the RELIEF OF
a belea guered city
The allies have maintained. or at
tempted to maintain, blockade Of the
North sea, and no neutral ships may
pole effort. with the last chapter writ
ten by the United States.
It was the specially constructed Ice
smsshing ship Roosevelt that carried
Admiral Peary within striking distance
of his goal and this same ship is now
to be used by the government in open
ing up the magnificent arctic province,
Alaska.
g ONE contend that 1.-The New Con-
~ stellation" of stars decreed for the
flag was copied after the constella-
tion Lyra, which in the hands of
Orpheus signifies harmony, and is of
the required number. John Adams is
said to have proposed Lyra as the en-
blem of union. and when John Quincy
Adams was Secretary of State in 1920
he gave color to the idea by removing
the United States arms from the
United States passports and substitut-
ing a circle of thirteen stars surround
ing an eagle holding in his beak the
constellation Lyra and the motto.
'.Nunc Sidera 0ucit,"
1T is given a reason why flag
u emblematic of the union of the
colonies was not sooner adopted was
that the adherence of Georgia was re-
qured to complete the Union. On the
9Th of July. 1915, Georgia in her
provincial congress assented to all