Evening star., 1915-02-09
TO CNF j. S. CREWS
CHANCE TO ESCAPE
Germany will Not Sink Ships
Unless They Garry
Contraband.
DENY THAT BLOCKADE
IS PURPOSE OF ORDER
Newspapers Say Declaration Of
Naval War Zone Is Entirely
Within Rights.

ana London.-The naval measures OF
Germany against British commerce are
In no sense a blockade. No hostile
action against neutral shipping is con-
templated. German submarines and
warships will endeavor by every means
In their power to avoid sinking Ameri-
can or other neutral ships and will
take every precaution to avoid q mis-
take.
The above may be taken as the cor
rect Interpretation placed upon the
German proclamation in competent cir
oles in Berlin.
The proclamation declaring the
waters around Great Britain to be a
war zone, like similar British measures
which were taken as a precedent, Is
designed, 1t Is asserted, to warn neu-
trails that ship venturing into the
in the same fashion as a civilian wan
dering on land battlefield runs the risk
of being struck by a chance shot.
British Trade to Suffer.
It was stated that 1t might be safely
asserted that the Germans have no in
tention Of sinking an American ship
unless she Is carrying contraband OF
war. and then only II her crew can be
given the possibility of escape. 1t
was added. however. that war meas
ish trade with all possible severity in
order ito give England a taste Of her
own medicine"
The warning to neutral shipping. it
ticularly needed in view Of the re-
ported order to British ships to hoist
neutral flag whenever they are in
danger. an order which, II adhered 10.
= IL
for a German warship to discriminate
between neutral and hostile shipping.
German Plan Made Clear.
A. number Of the German newspapers
assert that the memorandum accom-
panying the proclamation of February
made 1t clear that Germany had no
intention of starting q war against neu-
tral trade. They declare, however. that
Germany was perfectly within her
rights in declaring the zone around the
British islands, a war area In which 1t
is dangerous for neutral vessels to
operations, as well as owing to the
possibility OF mistakes being made in
submarine was area danger which.
they assert. has been enormously in
creased by Great Brttain's resort to
neutral flags"
The newspapers assert that II the
United States wishes to protest. it
should do SO first to Great Britain,
whose alleged abuse OF neutral fage.
as was reported in the case Of the Lusi-
of all ships-
Welcomes Incident.
The Vossische Zeitung declares that
it welcomes the incident as the occa-
sion for a FREQ interchange OF views
between Germany and the United
States, which may result, like the
pending Anglo-American negotiations
on the protest against delays In COM
merce, In clearing up the situation.
1T America feels called upon to send
a protest to Berlin" says the Vossische
Zeitung, lit will be met In quite as
friendly spirit as in London and will
find Germany ready to establish by
Joint discussion what Germany, while
maintaining the vital interests which
are as important to her as they are to
England, can do to avoid as far as pos
sible the damaging of American in
terests."
Risk Is From Mines.
As to the danger announced in the
German warning. the newspaper says.
it will in many cases be impossible to
protect neutral ships against 1t. 1t Is
not a question Of a German submarine
neutrals in the belief that
they are Illegally flying a neutral flag.
but far rather a question Of risk from
mines.
''When the government declared GER
tain waters a war area" the Vossische
Zeitung continues. "it reserved the
right to use all permissible war meas
ures therein. and 1t will not make a
later specific declaration of where and
when mines are laid within these
waters after February is.
America certainly cannot question
Germany.s right to undertake military
United Kingdom.
Should Protest to Britain.
Should it wish to protest that Il
might involve American ships because
of misuse Of the American flag such
a general protest in advance Of spe-
cific case should be addressed to Lon
don, not to Berlin. because England
already has begun a deliberate mis-
use of the American flag and defends
IL as a permissible measure OF de-
tense.
"Can America expect Germany to re-
spect it's flag when It Is nisused as In
the case of the Lusitania and what
use to its interests?'
The Vossische Zeitung says il hopes
that such q frank discussion also will
extend to the field of the export of
arms and ammunition. subject which
Ii declares has been largely responsible
for the introduction Of the new phase
Of naval warfare.
Follows Precedent, He Says.
Capt. Persius. the naval expert OF the
raeebiatt, points out that Germany !
mas proclaimed no blockade. but has |
adopted new methods for war which
Great Britain has also furnished a |
precedent by its declaration that the
North sea was a war area.
Capt Persius says that neutrals
which did not protest then. now have i
no ground to object to similar action |
by Germany.
The Lokai Anzeiger discusses the
british argument that the hosting OF
q neutral flag Is permissible. II de- |
clares that while this qu. stion in peace
times might be open to argument
there Is no doubt that such action Is
ahsolutely without warrant In time of
war. because Of the danger OF involv-
in1 nentral countries In war.