The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-05
EASY MONEY"
By RICHARD F. LESSER

Two years savings of trusting old negro ''mammy' were lost yesterday at noon when the 'pocketbooep game of ancient vintage was successfully op- erated on Ellen Williams, who cooks" at 3329 Avenue F, at the Brown Marx building. The savings amounted to $100 and the negro woman told her sorrowful take at police headquarters after she had discovered that the ''pocletbool1" contained naught but Confederate bills.
 The "poclSe etbook" game is opera ted in this manner: one negro walks by the side of the victim and another ne- gro slightly in advance. In a surrep- titious manner a "poclSetbook" stuffed with Confederate bills of large de1om- ination Is planted" on the sidewalk and just s the negro in advance of the victim starts to pick up the wallet the negro at the side of victim calls attention to the fact. The negro and the 'victim.1 who yesterday was El- len Williams, then run up to the negro who had picked up the pock etbook and a heated discussion immediately takes Pio,C ph HoW lO SidTt lDe pIOceeUS. The victim is shown that the pocket book is stuffed with bills of large de- nomination.
 Look we're nigsah," said one of the "flimflammers' this we're sistah and me done see y'u pick up dis purse and we wants our share or we is go'in ter tell de police"
 ......................... the practical solution of the questions which have arisen.
 With regard to the various points of the American note. they beg to make the following remarks:
 Regarding Mines
 1. With regard to the sowing of mines, the German government would be willing to agree as suggested not to use floating mines. and to have an ehored mines as indicated Moreover, they agree to put the stamp of the government on all mines to be planted On the other hand, it does not appear to them to be feasible for the belli- gerents wholly to forego the use of anchored mines for offensive purposes. "2. The German government would undertake not to use their submarines to attack mercantile vessels of any flag except when necessary to enforce the right of visit, and search. Should the enemy nationality of the vessel or the presence of contraband be ascertained submarines would proceed in accord ance with the general rules of interna- tional law
 '3 As provided in the American note this restriction of the of the sub marines Is contingent on the fact that enemy mercantile vessels abstain from use of neutral flag and other neutral distinctive marks It would appear to be matter of course that such mer- cantile vessels also abstain from arm ing themselves and from all resist ance by force since such procedure con trary to international law would render impossible any action of the submar- ines in accordance with international law.
 A. The regulation of legitimate im- portations of food into Germany sug- gested by the American government ap- pears to be in general acceptable. Such resolution would of course be regulated on importation by sea but on the other hand would include indirect importa- tions by way of neutral ports.
 "The German government would therefore, be willing to make the dec larations of the nature provided in the American note so that the use of the imported food and foodstuffs solely by the noncombatant population would be guaranteed. The imperial government must, however, in addition. emphasize having the importation of other raw material used by the economic sys- tenn of noncombatants including for age, permitted. To that end the enemy governments would have to permit the free entry into Germany of the raw material mentioned in the free list of the declaration of London and to treat materials included in the list of con- ditional contraband according to the same principles as food and foodstuffs.
 Raw Materials
 The German government ventures to hope that the agreement for which the American government have paved the way may be reached after due con- sideration of the remarks made above and that in this way peaceable neutral shipping and trade will not have to suffer any more than is absolutely necessary from the unavoidable effects of maritime war These effects could be still further reduced if as was point ed out in the German note of the 18th instant some way could be found to exclude the shipping of munitions of war from neutral countries to bellig- event on ships of any nationality.
 The German government must, of course. reserve definite statement of their position until such time as they may receive further information from