Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-19

which even under the Strictcst obscrv-
ance OF the limits OF International law.
endRneers every ship approaching the
mine area. The German Eovernment
consi ders Itself entitled to hope that
all ncu,rals will acauiescc In these
measures. as they have done in the case
Of the sricvous damages inflicted upon
thcm by British measures. all the more
80 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 at
tainment Of this object
lin view of the fact that Germany
gave the first proof Of her good will
i'll fixing time limit OF not less than
fourteen DAYS before the execution OF
said measures. so that neutral shipping
nigh; have an opportunity OF making
arrangements to avoid threatening dan
ger. this can most surely be achieved
by remaining away from the naval
war .onc Neutral vessels. which
despite this ample notice. which greatly
affects the achievement OF our uims i'm
our war against Great Britain. enter
these closed waters will themselves
bear the responsibility for any unfor-
lGnntc accidents that may occur. Ger
many disclaims all responsibility for
such accidents and consequences
PLANS DESTRI CTION OF ALI.
ENEMY MERCHANT VESSELS
Germany has further expressly an
nounc"d tn" destruction or all enemy
merchant vessels found within the war
zone. but not the destruction of all
I merchant vessels. rs the United states
I enormously seems TO have understood.
This restriction which Germany imposes
I upon itself is preiudicinl to the aim of
our warfare. especially as i'm the ap-
plication OF the conception Of contra
band practiced ny Great Britain to-
wards Germany which conception will /
( now also be similarly interpreted by
. Germany. the presumption will bc that
neutral ships have contrabahd aboard.
Germany naturally ia unwilling to re
nounce its rights to ascertain the pres
I cncc OF contrabnnd In neutral vessels. |
and In certain cases TO draw conclusions
thcrcfrom.
/ Germany is ready, finally. to de-
Z liberate with tho United states con-
4 corning any measures which might Sc
/ cure the safety OF Legitimate shipping
Of neutrals in the war zone. Germany /,
/ cannot, however, forbear Ia point out !
that all its efforts in this direction
[ may be rendered very difficult by two |
circumstances; first, the misuse Of
neutral flags by British merchant YES
! sells. which is individually known TO the !
/ United states; second. the contraband !
B trade already mentioned. especially in
/ war materials, on neutral vessels
Regarding the latter point. Germany
/ would fRin hope that the United states.
/ after further consideration, will come |
/ To conclusion corresponding to the |
! spirit of renl neutrality. Regarding the
{ iirst point, the secret order of the
/ British admiralty recommending to
| British merchant ships tho use OF neu-
/ tral nass, has been communicated by |
I Germany TO the United states and con-
! .irmed by communication from the Bri- |
.I-f En mi I, t.I, a taKt..a -. \
this procedure as entirely unobjection- !
able and in accordance with British |,
law British merchant shipping i'm
mediatcly followed this advice, as
doubtless is known to the American
government from the Incidents of the |
Lusitania and The l.aertes.
Moreover. the British government
has supplied arms to British merchant
ships and instructed them forcbly TO
resist German submarines In these |
. circumstances * would be very difficult !
for submarines To recognize neutral |
merchant ships. for search in most |
Ca S"s cannot be undertaken. seeing that
In ,ne case OF disguised British ship. !
from which an attack may be cN-
pc~ted the searching party and tho |
submarine would be exposed to de- |
struction
Great Britain, then. was in posi- ,
ton 10 make the German measures IL |
lusory IL tho British merchant fleet per- !
sisted III the misuse OF neutral nags !
and neutral ships could not otherwise !
b" recognized beyond doubt. GERMANY |
however, being in state OF necessity !
whcrein she WAS placed by violation or |
Law. must render effective her meas !
uros IN all circumstances ia order !
Thereby 10 compel her adversary To !
adopt methods OF warfare correspond |
Ing with international law, ana so to !
restore the freedom OF the seas, which /
Germany AZ all times is the defender |
and FOR which she to-day Is lighting |
Germany therefore. rejoices that ,
tn" United states has made represcn- !
tations 10 Great Britain concerning the |
Illegal use OF their nag, md expresses |
IN" expectation that this procedure will |
force Great Britain to respect the Amer
lean nag In the future In this ex-
pectaton commanders OF German sub
marines have been instructed, as al |
ready mentioned In the note OF Fob |
ruary 4 to refrain from violent action
against American merchant vessels, 90
FAR as these can be recognized
In order to prevent in the sures,
manner the consequences OF confusion !
though naturally not 40 far ms mines |
arc concerned, Germany recommends
ihat the United States make their
ships which are conveying peaccful
chrgoos through the British war zone
d!sconcrrnibln by means OF convoys
Germany believes IT MAJ act on
Tue suppositton that only such ships
would be conveyed carried goods
not regarded as contraband according
TO the british Interpretation made in
the case OF Germany
How this method OF convoy can be
carried ont is - question concerning
winch Germany IN ready 10 omen ne
E"iatons with the United states as
soon as possible. Germany would h,
particularly grateful, however, If tho
United states would urgently recon-
mend 10 its merchant vessels to avoid
the Br!tish naval war zone in any
case until the settlement OF the nag
question.
Germany is inclined TO The confident
/. hope that tho United states will he
"D!e I" appreciate in It's entire sig
h!hcaucc the heavy battle which Ger
many Is waging for existence. and thar