Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-02

LONDON, March 1.-The estab'
lishment Of a virtual blockade of hos
tile countries is Britain's reply to
Germany's attacks on merchant ship
ping, as announced officially today
by Premier Asquith in a momentous
speech in the House of Commons.
The plan of the allied governments for
the regulation of shipping to and from
ports OF hostile nations contemplates the
prevention of commodities Of every kind
reaching or leaving those ports. without
however involving risks of neutral YES
sells or their crews. The allies will hold
themselves at liberty to capture goods
presumed to have come from hostile
countries or deemed to be destined for
them. They have no intention. however,
of confiscating ships or cargoes which
are detained. unless they are liable TO
confiscation under normal conditions of
war.
The premier revealed these measures
of reprisals to Parliament and the ma
ton on introducing the third and fourth
votes for credit to meet the expenses of
the war. These are, respectively 1885,
10000 to balance the expenditures of the
current fiscal year, making the total
costs Of eight months OF war 81, $40, 100000
and another vote of 81, $4,000 as the first
installment for the year opening April l.
Germans CaIIcd Pirates.
Referring to the German naval cam
fpaign against British shipping. Premier
Asquith declared that Germany had vio-
lated systematically all the conventions
intended for the mitigation of warfare.
1t had taken further steps. the premier
said, by organizing IAN under-sea cam
paign of piracy and pillage." Germany.
he declared, was not blockadlng and
could never blockade English shores.
Referring to what he termed whispers
of peace, Mr.. Asquith said It was not time
10 talk Of peace; that this time would
arrive ''oLty when the great purpose OF
the allies are in sight of accomplish
ment"
The premier pointed out that on April
] the war would have lasted 40 days,
with an average expenditure OF f1,6O0,O 900
GI,5Oo,0OO daily After making full allow
ence for all Items not In the nature Of re-
covegable loans, the daily expenditure
would not work out less than q. 200. 600.
Tee total amount raised under votes for
credit during the current financial year
1862 900, ,O00-represented broadly the DIFF
ference in expenditures on a peace and a
war footing.
Cash Advanced 10 Allies.
OF the total 100000 represented ad-
Vances for war expenditures OF the do
sninions and the crown colonies, in addi-
tion to which. there has been advanced
flO'0Oo0OO to Belgium and $780, 900 10 Ser
bia.
Further advances to these allies are I'm
contemplation" the premier continued.
i" 1T is probably within the mark TO say
that by April l we shall be spending
roughly f2,0QeOo0 daily above the normal"
The credit for f250OOO,Oo0 is the largest
single vote ever put before the House.
1t will cover the period to the second
week of July.
referring TO the attack on the Dardan
elles' the premier said there had been no
impairment Of strength of the allies in
France or in Flanders as a result of
Withdrawals of men for service in the
campaign against Turkey
We shall continue to give the fullest
and most effective support there" he
added, referring to the western front
Neither has there been for the mr.
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