The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-30
RUNNING A BLOCKADE.
Some of the Rules That Govern This
Exciting Sea Game.

Although their operations are dras-
tic and unpleasant, blockades and
blockade runners have always been
among the most picturesque and dra-
matte aspects of a great war
There are many people alive today
who remember the four years block
ade of the ports of the southern states
of America by the federal government
during the American Civil war. Dur
ing that period a big trade was carried
on by swift steamers which owned
Glasgow as their port of origin. They
traded to such blockaded ports as
Wilmington and Charleston, the hor-
Dor of which had been INSTRUCTED by
sunken ships and huge stones; and
they made huge fortunes.
Thus one man sold in Wilmington
for IL ShillingS ~cCrSetS which he
bought in Liverpool for threepence.
And when he got back to Liverpool he
sold cotton at half crown a pound
which he had purchased in Whining
ton for twopence Still, the risks of a
that engaged in this traffic in four
years 40 were captured.
Blockades can be applied either to
an enemy's town or fortress, or to a
port or series of ports on an enemy'S
coast. 1t has, in a naval sense, two
effects 1t brings pressure to bear on
an enemy within their own gates. and
aims at preventing the import or eX-
e,
ammunition or re-enfOrcements. 1t
also makes it unlawful for neutrals to
trade with those particular ports.
AS a consequence, certain precau-
tons are usually observed. 1t is. for
instance, held that for a valid block
ade not only should a state of war
exist, but that the blockading party
should maintain a force sufficient to
prevent access to the blockaded port
or, a t all events, powerful enough to
a of a
tremely hazardous. Further, it is es-
sentia1 that neutral nations should
have proper notice of the existence of
the blockade either by official notice
or by warning given to neutral vessels
on their arrival outside the prohibited
zone.
Nations differ to what constitutes
an effective blockade, and until the
present outbreak of war in Europe Oc-
Cured England and the United States
always took the easiest views of what
was a valid blockade. All counties
however, agree that a blockading
force may seize any vessel with its
cargo trying to trade with a b1ockaded
port, and can send it home for con-
demnation- Even if a vessel succeeds
in breaking through blockade it can
be pursued and, if possible. captured
A vessel may, for the sake of hu-
manity-suppose her crew is starving
or she is in danger of sinking-be al
lowed to enter blockaded port. Mail
steamers also. if they do not carry
contraband, are permitted to go in and
out. Thus in the recent United States
war with Mexico British mail boats
sailed regularly to Vera Cruz
Any wholesale destruction of life by
the sinking or burning of trading yes
sells is not a blockade. Piracy is the
word used for that kind of slaughter
by international lawyers, and it dates
back to the time when announcement
captives were made to walk the plank
and gentlemen of the VIII Atkins type
flew the skull and crossbones. Article
4S of the Declaration of London
(Which was signed first by the Ger
man emperor), says plainly "a neu-
trail vessel which has been captured
may not be destroyed by the captor.''
.-Pearson's Weekly.