The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-08-18
WANTS COTTON PUT
UNDER WAR BAN
gRITONS URGE ACTION BY Gov
ERNMENT.-USED IN THE
EXPLOSIVES.

London, Aug. 14.-At a meeting
held tonight to impress on the gov
eminent the necessity OF declaring
cotton contraband, Sir William Ram
say the scientist, declared cotton was
the only substance required for the
manufacture of munitions with
which the Germans could rot supply
themselves IS. He said nc cheml'al pro-
ducts can ta@c the place Of cot:.'n IN
propulsive ammunition. Sir Charles
NIAGARA, president Of the Master Cot
ton Spinners' Association of Great
Britain, preSidal, and 81: William
was the principal speaker.
An inspired statement published III
most of the newspapers this morning
deprecatingA the action to make co.,
ton contraband and intimating that
negotiations with the United States
on this subject were proceeding les
sened interest in the meeting but
both the presiding officers and speak
ers were insistent that immediate ac-
ton should be taken.
In opening the meeting Sir Charles
said ne had no doubt manufacturers
of explosives had consumed a large
part of the cotton surplus created by
the war and added:
Must Use Power.
eve must utilize u command of
the highways of the sea, both ply
sically and automatically to prevent
cotton reaching enemy countries,
while at the same time acting fairly
IN the interest of neutral countries"
He was sure the government had
given anxious consideration to this
complicated problem and said there
Was no doubt that the stocks of cot
ION accommodating at Liverpool had
shown an improvement was taking
place, but that it was necessary that
strong and we'll considered measures
should be carried out to keep cotton
from the countries with which Great
Britain was at war.
Sir William Ramsay, who seconded
q resolution passed demanding that
cotton be declared contraband, as
serted that while substitutes for cot
ton could be used in making nitro
sellulose none had what was called
the "ballistic power" of cotton, and
if anything else were used by the
Germans it would necessitate enlarg-
ing the chambers of their guns and
altering the sights of their rifles, an
eXpedient which not even Germany
could be prepared to adopt in the
course of a great war. He declared
that cotton was going into Germany
by devious routes. 1t was sold, he
said to Dutch and Swedish compan-
les under a guarantee that it would
not be sold to Germany or Austria.
While technically this guarantee was.
not violated, Sir Charles contended
1t was In reality a ~subterfuge, for
the Dutch and Swedish consignees
sold the shipments to Swiss compan-
les who, in turn, sold them to Great
Britain's adversaries.
Thousand Tons a Day.
Sir Charles estimated that a thous-
n tons G cotton is used every day
Of the war and he protested that it
was grossly unfair to the English SOL
dlers and their allies that Great Brit
am should continue to supply Ger
many with this commodity.
Had cotton been stopped at the
beginning of the war;" he said, 1--WE
might reasonably expect to see the
war nearing an end"
A letter from Lord Beresford was
read at the meeting in which he said
II cotton had been declared contra
band last February the war now
would be approaching it's final scenes
and added:
Cotton is still entering Germany.
She might just as we'll be allowed to
import shells. Neutral powers should
be informed that we intend to main
tain our maritime rights as a bellig-
erent. OF what use to US is the a
1ery OF the sea unless we profit by its
advantages?
We don't wish to hamper the
trade of the great English speaking
nation across the Atlantic. There are
difficulties, but difficulties were ere.
ated to be faced"
The solution of the problem pro-
posed by Lord Beresford would be
Tor the British government to buv
up the entire American cotton CROP
and resell afterwards, even if at a
WILD FLOWERS OF
THE JIHITTrN c-.--n