Evening journal., 1915-03-15
STARVE THE KA|SER"
THE ENGLISH SLOGAN
British Government Form
ally Declares Blockade OF
North German Coast
EXPECT PROTEST
FROM AMERICA
By The United Press.

BY The United Press.
LONDON, March l5-Grcat Britain
today struck her promised blow against
Germany. BY issuing an order in count
ell she throttled Germany's commerce N
drastic manner, unprecedented in in
ternational law.
The decree practically declares a
blockade Of the German North Sea coast,
without using the precise term. This
is contrary TO all prccedcnts which re-
uuirc the presence of blockading war
ships.
To complete the program OF starving
out the Kaiser" the government laid
certain drastic restrictions upon neutral
commerce These are designed to pre-
vent Germany from exporting or inn
porting any commodities through H9l-
land on scandinavian countries on the
Baltic Sea, controlled by the German
navy.
The "blockadc" order is effective at
once. I'M fact the government served
notice that it had been in effect ever
since March J.. when Premier Asquith, IN
his House of Commons speech, gave no
tice to the world OF the allies intentions
10 put commercial ring around Ger
many.
The government expects strong
protests from tho United States, Hol-
land and the Scandinavian countries
whose commerce is nit hard by the
order i'm council made public today.
The English reply will be that dras-
tic action OF an unprecedented sort
was made necessary by Germauys al
legged violation OF all principles OF in
ternational law in torpedoing uharm-
ed merchantmen Furthermore, as
surances was given that ample pro-
lection will be given neutrals in the
British prize courts.
No merchant vessel OF any nation
which sailed from its port Of original
departure after Premier Asquith's al
nouncement OF March ], Will be al.
lowed to continue on its way TO 8
German port One OF two course.
will be open to her master; either he
may discharge his cargo at British
port in custody OF prize court or h'
may receive a pass enabling him L
proceed 10 a neutral or an allied port
IT the merchant vessel accepts sucl
a pass and then proceeds to Ger
man port, she will be liable TO cap
ture and condemnation on any fu
ture voyage.
No merchant vessel. which steame.
from a German port after March
CARRYING q cargo OF German goods
will be permitted TO continue to he
destination. Her cargo must be dis
charged at a British or allied port.
The next section OF the order d
council. dealing with the treatmen
of neutral vessels carrying goods
neutral counties. but ultimately de-
tined to Germany. or carrying Gel
man goods trans-shipped at ncutri
port. is different in its Dhrase1ios'
This fact was considered highly sic
nifcant in government circles.
Every vessel which sailed atte
March / to other than q German por
carving goods of enemy desiinauo
or property. may be required to dis
charge these goods at a British or a
lied pcrt." said the text Of the orde
in council
"Merchant vessels which sail frol
other than German port. havin
goods of enemy origin or enemy prof.
crtN VIII NC IcVuiitu ~ hioNNeti :
such goods at a British or allie
port"
In preceding paragraphs dealn
with voyages direct TO or from Ge
many. the order in council uses Il
positive phrase. "No vessel will
allowed to proceed" In its referen'
10 commerce. between neutral go'
ernments. over which the most en-
phatic protests are certain to be mad
the word may is used.
In some quarters it was assert'
that by avoiding the positive wol
will the government left loophol
through which it might withdraw
diplomatic negotiations failed
smooth out difficulties with Il
United States and other neutrais.
The order in council further d
clares that owners of cargoes taxi
before a prize court under the deer
may make immediate application 4
restoration of their property.
In every case the prize court W
make a speedy decision in order
inconvenience neutrals as little
possible.