Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-02
PLAN. OF RETALIATION
OUTLINED BY AsQu|7H
Establishment Of Virtual Blockade
OF Hostile Countries to BE Ef-
fective Forthwith.
BEGs PATIENCE OF NEUTRALs
Premier Reads Statement at Session
OF House OF Commons Which VIII
BE Historic-Action OF Allies Is
Answer to Germany.

LONDON. March l U0:10 p. M).-
If the combined fleets of Great Britain
and France cen prevent II, no commodi-
ties OF any kind, except those now on
the seas, hcnceforth until tho conclu-
sion OF the war shall reach or leave
the shores Of Germany
This Is Englands answer to Ger
many's submarine blockade. and 1t Is
to be effective forthwith
Premier Asquith. reading from n pre-
pared statement made this announce
ment In tho House of Commons to-day
at session which will be historic.
Studiousiy avoiding the terms block
ade' and ''contraband"-for these
words occur nowhere in tho prepared
statement-the Premier explained that
the allies considered themselves justi-
fled in attempting. and would attempt,
Ito dctain and take into port ships
carrying goods OF presumed enemy des-
tination, ownership or origin"
The Premier cmpha sized. however,
that vessels and carSocs so sniZcd were
not necessarily liable 10 coniiscation,
and begged the patience OF neutral
countries in the face OF n step likely
to injurc tncm. lie added that in tax
ing such Il step the allies had done so
In self-defcnse
I'VE arc quite prepared" he went
on. TO submit To the arbitramcnt OF
neutral opinion and still more to the
verdict of Impartial history. that in
tho circumstances in which we have
been placed. we have been moderate;
we have been restrained; we have abb
stained from things that We were pro-
rokcd and tempted to DO, and we navc
adopted II policy which commends II :
self to reason. 10 common sense and to
Justice"
TREMENDOUS OUTHURST
AS ASQUI1II CONCLUDES
Every member OF the House not at
the front in khaki or unavnidably de-
tanned. was In his seat, and there was
frequent cheering. The galleries were
packed. When tho Premier concluded
his set statement, and. turning to tho
Speaker, said: THAT. sir, Is our repIy!"
there was Il tremendous outburst
Cnriously, the German reply to tho
American note seeking to solve the sit :
uation growing out of Germany's dccla-
ration of Il naval war zone, was
handed to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin
to-day. and Premier Asquith, in his
speech. said that Great Britain and
her allies wcro 5;iil considering care
fully the American note to them on the
same subject. That tho British gov
ernment had rejected the proposal. he
declared. was quito Untrue"
Tho tremendous cost OF modern war
fare. which the Premier estimated now
Mt S7.5oo,0On daily to the allies alone.
and likely to grow TO $500, 900 or mora
by April. was tho theme of that part
OF the address not dealing with the
blockade. Tho Premier gave these fig
ures In asking for supplementary
vote OF credit, making a total of ST.
s1O.Oo0,0o0 to prosecute the war to
March 81. 1915. which tho House unnni-
mously granted
The entire struggle with Napoleon
cost England only about S6155. .OOO. 900
and the South African War only ST.
O55.O00.00o, according to Mr.. Asuuith
Before tho Premier had finished. tho
newspapers We're on the streets pro-
claiming: Our answer to Germany" in
big letters. and 1t was apparent overy-
where that tho entire nation had been
chahng for rcprisals against the sink
Ing of merchant craft by submarines.
STATEMENT NOT ONLY OF
RIGHTS, BUT OF DUTIES
The Premier prefaced the reading OF
his statement with these words:
Tho statement declares In sufficiently
Continued on Second PaEe.)