South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-02
BRITAIN IS SURE
COAST BLOCKADE
WILL SUCCEED
Embargo on Food and Raw Ma
teriaIS For Germany Hailed
With Enthusiasm by Press
and Public of England.

LONDON. .March >. .- England's
embargo upon food and raw materials
destined for Germany is in full effect
today and the British government is
confident that it will be able to block
ade the German coast successfully.
1t was learned today that the delay
of Great Britain in announcing its
policy in regard to reprisals against
Germany was due to changes made
necessary in the location of English
warships in order TO shut vessels off
The German coast. These were COM
pleted Sunday and on Sunday a full
report of the new disposition of the
British disposition were transmitted
to Premier Asquith. His announce
ment of the embargo came the next
cay.
Abe action of the government is
hailed with jubilation by the London
press. which has been impatiently de-
manding the "strangulation of Ger
many" ever since that country open
ed its submarine warfare While it
is admitted that protests from neutral
countries probably will follow the
embargo proclamation, the various
naval experts on the newspapers here
are united in declaring that the pre-
cedent set in the American Civil war
j.. sufficient to Justify the blockade.
Will Avoid Wanton Injury.
on this point today the Daily Mail
says:
The allies will in fact, observe all
the rules laid down by the United
States courts in the blockade of the
southern coasts during the Civil war,
and they Will take every possible step
to avoid wantOn injury to neutrals.
They decline to be bound by the net
work of legal subtleties for which
Germany has shown not the slightest
regard. but they will observe the great
and fundamental principles of inter-
national law.
Thus at last. after seven months
respite. the silent pressure of sea
power is To be applied TO Germany IN
earnest.
"Of the capacity OF the allies 10
exert such pressure not the slightest
doubt need be felt at all. The fact
that it Has been possible TO detaCh
large force of battleship ps, including
the new wonderful superdreadnaught
ueen Elizabeth, to the far off Darda-
nelles is in itself proof that our mar
gin of force is abundant"
Would Disregard NeutTals.
The most radical proposition is put
forth by the Morning Post, which ad-
VOCateS the abolition OF the pIlIS
claims committee. 1t says:
Neutral countries will of course
complain. Neutrals have always COM
plained in war time since the begin
ning of the time. but no neutral has
ever succeeded in forcing the sea
power of England to relax its grip.
According to the Times, Great Brit
aims present hostile move TO isolate
Germany and Austria from the bal
ance of the warld was based upon
the policy of reason" 1t says. IN
part:
eve base our policy upon reason,
common sense and justice and in car
rying il out We shall observe the
rllies of honesty and the precepts of
humanity. That is England's answer
TO the German blockade device
utterly unreconciIable with all the
principles by which real blOckades
are regulated and subject which they
are alone allowed"
The Daily Telegraph predicts that
Germany Will speedy be crushed now
that England has decided to shut of
her supplies from the outside world.