Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-03-02

He Proposes to Stop All Shipping to
Germany, and that Although Neutral
Vessels Will be Arrested, as to What
Will Be Done With Them and Their
carsoes Remains for Further De-
veIopments.
If the combined fleets Of Great Brit
ain and France can prevent 1t, no COM
modities Of any kind except those o
on the seas hencerorth until the COIL
clusion of the war shall or leave
the shores of Germany.
This is England's answer to Ger
many's submarine blockade and 1t IS
TO be effective forthwith.
Premier Asquith, reading from d
prepared statement, made mis- an
nouncement in the house OF
at a session yesterday. Studlousiy
avoiding the term blockade, anu
.'contraband"-for these words occur
nowhere in the prepared statement
the premier explained that the alles
considered themselves justified In at
tempting and would attempt TO de-
tain and take into port ships carrying
goods of presumed enemy ina
ownership or origin"
The premier emphasized, however,
that vessels and cargoes so seized were
not necessarily liable to c~onnscatioh,
and begged the patience OF neutrai
countries in the face OF a step nKeiy
to injure them. He added that IN
making such a step the aliies hau
done so in s~elf-defense.
we are quite prepared ne went
on, Ito submit to the arbitrament Oh
neutral opinion and still more 10 tne
verdict OF impartial history, that IN
the circumstances in which we have
been placed, we have been moderate
we have been restrained; we nave ao-
stained from things that we were
provoked and tempted to do, N we
mends itself to reason, to common
sense and to justice"
Every member Of the house not at
the front in khaki or unavoidably de-
tanned, was in his seat and there was
frequent cheering. The galleries were
packed. When the premier conciuoeo
his set statement and turning 10 the
speaker, said:
This, sir, is our reply!" There was
a tremendous outburst.
Curiously, the German reply to the
American note seeking to solve the
situation growing out Of Germany s
declaration Of a naval var zone, was
handed to Ambassador Gerard at Der
lin Yesterday, and Premier Asquith, In
his speech, said that Great Britain and
her allies were still considering care
fully the American note to them on
the same subject. That the British
government had rejected the proposal
he declared, vas quite untrue
The tremendous cost Of modern war
fare, which the premier estimated now
at $500, 900 daily to the allies alone,
and likely to grow to $S,50O,O00 or
- ~, will moo the theme OF tlaI
part of the address not dealing with
the blockade. The premier gave these
figures in asking for a supplementary
vote of credit, making a total OF W.
$40, 600, 900 to prosecute the wal TO
March 81, 1915, which the house unanl-
mously granted.
The entire struggle with Napoleon
cost England only about s6,l55,ooo,-
900, and the South African war only
sl,055, 900, 900, according to Mr.. Asquitn.
Before the premier had finished the
newspapers were on the streets pro-
claiming:
Our answer to Germany"
1t was apparent everywhere thai the
entire nation had been chahng Tor re-
prisals against the sinking of merchant
craft by submarines.
The premier prefaced he reading or
his statement with these words:
The statement declares in suf1cl-
emily plain and unmistakable terms
the view we take, not only OF our
rights, but Of our duties"
The statement is as follows:
Germany has declared that the
English Channel, the north and west
coasts of France and he waters
around the British Isles are a war
area, and has officially notified that all
enemy ships found in that area Will
be destroyed and that neutral vessels
may be exposed to danger. This is In
effect a claim to torpedo at sight, with
out regard to the safety of the crew
or passengers, any merchant VesSel
under any flag. AS it is not in the
w Of the German admiralty to
maintain any surface craft in these
waters, this attack can only be de-
livered by submarine agency.
.Th law and customs OF nations In
regard to attacks on commerce nave
always presumed that the first duty
OF the captor Of a merchant vessel is
to bring 1t before a prize court where
it may be tried, where the regularity
Of the capture may be challenged and
where neutrals may recover their
cargoes. -
THE sinking Of prizes is in itself
a questionable act to be resorted to
only in extraordinary circumstances
and after provision has been made for
the safety of all the crew and pas
& If there are passengers on
board the responsibility Of discrimi-
mating between neutral and enemy YES
sells and between neutral and enemy
cargo obviously rests with the attack
ing ship, whose duty it is to verify the
status and character Of the vessel and
cargo and to preserve all papers be-
fore sinking or even capturing it. So
also is the humane duty of providing
for the safety Of the crews of mer-
chant vessels, whether neutral or
enemy an obligation on every belliger-
ent.
1T is upon this basis that all pre-
vious discussions Of the law for regu-
lating warfare at sea have proceeded.