New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-18
INSURANCE RATES
SHOW NO CHANGE
Neutral Shipping Circles
Also Refuse to Get
Excited. Z
LINERS BELIEVED SAFE
Tensity of Situation in London
UndeniabIe-Wild Outburst
of German Press.
BY Cable 70 TIE Tribune ]

London, Feb. 1s.-"To-day is Der
Tag Fatal the February IS upon which
the German blockade Of British ports
is supposed to begin. This dies irae
finds not merely British opinion but
that OF most neutral countries trading
with Britain cool and unmoved. How
little perturbed are British shipping
circles is shown BY the fact that war
insurance rates have not been in
creased either by the government or
by any private association. The threat
is taken, first, as merely an expression
of German evaporation; second, as an
excuse for deliberate atrocities at sea,
and. third. and perhaps. mainly, as an
attempt to use the United States as
lever to release the grip of British sea
supremacy"
"The Daily Chronicle" from which
the foregoing is quoted. after making
Inquiries at the principal British ports,
found everywhere an intention to carry
on business as usual, despite German
threats, and no alteration in shipping
arrangements. Shipowners are conf
dent that the German blockade will be
almost ineffective.
A message from Fleetwood says that
A steam trawler arrived there, prepsr-
ing to sail again, and so far from
fearing German submarines, they are
anxious to meet one.
The Times" Defends Grey.
"The Times" in an editorial on Sir
Edward Grey's reply TO the American
note, picks out the concluding sen
tence: 1T is impossible for one bel
ligerent to depart from rules and
precedents and for the other TO re-
main bound by them for special
comment.
ave shall do our best in this new
phase of the war;" says "The Times"
ito avoid all unnecessary loss and in
convenience to neutrals, as we have
done all along, but Germany's an
nouncement that she will heneeforth
sink merchant ships at sight has forced
US to consider how we shall protect
our vital interests. The government.
as Sir Edward Grey has intimsted a.
least twice before, as he reiterstcs in
his present dispatch, and as the Prime
Minister stated the other day in the
House of Commons, has had measures
with this object under discussion. The
Germans may be unpleasantly sur
prised when these are put into effect.
There are passages in the note which
suggest that q more stringent restric-
tion upon the transport Of food sup
plies for Germany may be among
them. That would seem to be a some
what formidable prospect for her"
"The Times" regards Sig Edward
Grey's reply as excellent in matter and
in manner. "We cannot but think" IL
says, "that it will 20 far to remove the
doubts which exist as 70 our conduct
across the Atlantic. The note is pow
erful defence of the British position.
founded upon those arguments Of law
and fact which appeal with peculiar
force TO American minds rs TO our own.
Il comes appositely on the day when
Germany boasts that she will trampls
all the law and all the custom OF the
seas under her feet"
Faces Loss OF Life.
Commenting in the same editorial on
the German blockade Tho Times"
says:
I've shall wait and see before we
believe that Germany dare persevere in
her project for the blowing up Of Ameri-
can ships after the warning which Wash
ington has administered TO her. IL is, on
the other hand, certain that VIC shall
lose a certain number Of innocent lives
and a certain number OF ships by the
murderous methods which Germany has
deliberately adopted. Neither the gen
ersl population nor our shippers nor
sailors are at all alarmed OF the pros
poets. They do not make light Of the
risk, but neither do they over-estimate
il or suffer it to interfere with the
regular prosecution Of their business"