Evening star., 1915-02-06
NAVAL WAR ZONE
COMPRISES ONLY
BRITISH WATERS
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probably would be If passengers were not
| taken on before destruction of the ship.
1t is understood, however, that the
German memorandum explains the pur-
poses of the German admiralty in this
respect.
Statement by German Embassy.
The statement given out by the Ger
man embassy today follows:
The German ambassador has not re-
ceived instructions regarding the de-
cision of the German admiralty, but
according to the text of the decision
the following seems clear:
There is nothing new in the COM
munication made February 4 bv the
herman admiralty with respect to the
attitude Of the German imperial navy
| toward ships of the enemy or toward
| neutral commerce. 1t is absurd to
describe this as the proclamation Of a
The communication Is simply a st Ate-
ment of what has been since the be-
ginning of the war. the attitude of
the navies of all of the belligerent
| powers toward ships of the enemy.
"a few months ago the English ad-
| miralty proclaimed the closing of the
| North sea, the waters of which are es-
sentially neutral. Germany does not
mel to neutral commerce, and she does
not intend to molest or seize American
vessels laden with foodstuffs for the
civilian population of enemy countries:
it is to be hoped that England will not
make necessary reconsideration of
this attitude by selling American ships
like the Wilhelmina.
Germany does, however. announce
to the world that it proposes to con-
tinue to destroy ships belonging to the
enemy, and it adds the notification to
neutral powers that. on account OF the
fact that British ships are employing
neutral flags. according to secret in
structions now known to have been
issued by the British government, bona
f1de neutral vessels may actually be en-
dangered.
Right to Destroy Merchantmen.
Although. according to well UNDER
stood and universally accepted usages
OF warfare, naval vessels are perfectly
justified in destroying merchantmen Of
the enemy, the German government
now sees Mt to issue simply a general
reminder to that effect, stating the
actual radius of operations of the Ger
man submarines.
"The warning may also be taken as
in the nature of an answer to the
offer of a prize of $500, made in Eng
land for the first British merchant
ship that should succeed in ramming
and sinking a German submarine, an
offer calculated TO revive the long
Chevalier van Rappard. minister from
the Netherlands, conferred with Act
ing Secretary Lansing at the State
Department. He said he had no in
structions from his government as yet,
and was simply preparing himself to
report, when called upon. the probable
attitude of the United States govern
ment toward Germany's action.
1t appeared that the minister's pur-
ernment the likelihood of a protest
by the United States.
Course Of q. 8. Government.
It WAS suggested by oficials that
the course Of the American gov
ernment probably would be to in
ouire, first. of the German govern
ment what measures of protection
or convoy can be expected by Amer
tcan merchant ships passing through
the designated war zones to neu-
tral ports; and. second. of the Brit
;sh government. as to whether it has
issued the alleged secret order permit
ring the use of neutral flags by its
merchantmen.
A denial by Great Britain OF the ex-
istence of the order would be followed,
II is understood, by an inquiry of The
German authorities as to proof Of their
charge. The suggestion that neutral
dags were being misused caused no
little concern among high omcials, who
said they had heard no reports of it
before.
Beyond seeking to establish what
measures the German navy will take
to aid American ships in passing safely
through the war zones and what aGorts