Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-07
BLOCKADE LEAVES
NEUTRAL ZONE ON
EUROPES COAST
War Area Does Not Include Seas
Directly Adjacent to Any
Countries that Are at
Peace.
TExT CONES FROM GERARD
Regions Bordering Territorial
Waters of Allies Where
Craft Peril.
DIFFERS FROM FIRST REPORTS

| WAo1AENGlONt reD. u 4 he OAAi-
cial text of the German admiralty
proclamation transmitted by Ambas-
sador Gerard to the State departs
ment today reveals that navigation
routes to the north of shetland
islands and the eastern part Of the
North Sea, as well as a strip OF thirty
nautical miles along the Dutch coast,
are not In the danger zone. but that
the waters directly around Great
Britain and Ireland comprise the pro-
hibited areas. This differs from the
published report.
Tho wireless report OF the official adj
miralty proclamation kaid shipping
northward, around the Shetland Islands,
in the eastern basin OF the North sea,
and in a strip OF at least thirty nautical
miles in breadth. along tho Dutch coast
Is endangered In the same way"
Text OF Note.
Tho text OF the same. as received from
Ambassador Gerard. says; Navigation
routes around Shetland islands. in the
eastern part of the North sea, and for
thirty sea miles along the Dutch coast.
open
In other respects the proclamation con-
forms In sense to the report OF II sent 70
the United states by wireless. although
the phraseoiogy differs slightly.
State department officials indicated that
the proclamation as received from Am
bassador Gerard would be made public
has accompanied the proclamation with n
.frl.
Ambassador Gerard reported he would
send subsequently.
The proclamation itself. however, ac-
cording to the official test. makes II clear
that "all enemy ships" found In the "kone
OF operations" as the areas are described.
will be destroyed and points out that
contingencies may arise which may make
Il impossible always to save passengers
ana crew.
Dangers to NeutraIn.
j As for neutral vessels venturlng into
the war xono. the proclamation points
out the dangers TO which they '.rnay be
exposed" IN view OF the nisise OF neutral
flsgt BY enemy ships. and declares that
efforts to strike at belllgerent vessels
might In some oases unintentiohaiiy
strike neutral vessels
foreign office memorandum before TAX
ing any further steps. az they believe
that may explain the points on which
there is now some doubt II the areas
prescribed by the proclamation ara de-
fined as within the territorial waters OF
Great Britain and ireland different
situation may arise from that WHICH
:, would include extensive portions Of the
high seah.
Il Unless the German memorandum ex-
plains the precautions which German
naval commanders will take TO ascertain
whether a ship flying a neutral flag is
really neutral vessel, II Is most prob
able that an expression from the United
, States government win follow. pointing
out that the destruction Of neutral yes
sells carrying noncontraband cargoes or
injury 10 their passengers would not meet
with the acquiescence of this government.
Under tho rules Issued TO American
naval commanders during the Spanish
American war dehtruction OF enemy or
neutral ships captured ON the high seas,
which were certain to be condemned az
prizes for carrying contrabsnd, was per-
mitted, but only in cases Of overwhelm-
ing necessity. such as possible recapture
by the enemy.
The rules however. of international law
have been explicit on the requirements
OF proving that destruction OF prize 10
an imperative necessity. In the present
case. the possibility OF recapture OF Brit
fish ships n conveyed to German ports
it is realized. would not be difficult to
prove.
Lanssing's Statement.
Acting Secretary Lansing ISSUED the
Glowing statement tonight;
''The department has received from the
American ambassador as the text OF a
} proclamation issued by the German ad-
miraity on the fourth instant. which
reads as follows:
!" The waters around Great Britain. in
:, Guiding the whole English Channel. are
declared hereby 20 be included within
the zone OF war. and that after tho
eighteenth instant. all enemy merchant
vessels encountered in these waters will
be destroyed. even II It may not be pos
sible always to save their crews and
passengers.
Within this war gone neutral vessels
are exposed TO danger. since IN view OF
Z them lsuse OF the neutral flags. ordered
I by the government OF Great Britain on
the thirty-first ultimo and OF the haz-
ards OF naval warfare. neutral vessels
cannot always be prevented from suffer
ing from the attacks intended for enemy
ships.
4 Routes OF NaviEatIoa.
I" The routes OF navigation around the
north OF the Shetland islands IN the
North Sea and in a strip thirty miles
Wide along the Dutch coast, are not
open 70 the danger zone
THE German foreign office sent TO tho
ambassador q long memorandum ex-
planAtory OF this proclamation"