Evening star., 1915-02-07

text of proclamation issued by the
German admiralty the 4th instant,
which reads as follows:
The waters around Great Britain.
including the whole of the English
channel. are declared hereby to be in
ciuded within the zone Of war. and that
after the 18th instant all enemy mer-
chant vessels encountered in these
waters will be destroyed, even If it
may not be possible always to save
their crews and passengers.
within this war zone neutral ves-
sells are exposed to danger. since in
view of the misuse of the neutral flags
ordered by the government of Great
Britain on the 31st ultimo and of the
hazards of naval warfare, neutral ves-
suffering from the tatacks intended for
enemy ships.
The routes of navigation around
the north of the Shetland Islands, in
the eastern part of the North sea, and
in strip thirty miles wide along the
Dutch coast. are not open to the dan
ger zone
THE German foreign office sent to
the amba assador a long memorandum
explanatory of this proclamation
Will Not Molest Ships.
A statement issued by the German
embassy here declaring that American
ships laden with foo6stuffs for the
civilian population of Germany's enc
mics would not be molested, and ex-
pressing the hope that Great Britain
would not, by seizing the American
steamer Wilhelmina, carrying food
supplies TO Germany. make necessary
the adoption of a different policy, was
one of the numerous developments of
the situation =
officials read with interest unofficial
reports that the British ship, Lusi-
tanla. had entered Liverpool flying an
American flag, and it was considered
probable that the entire subject of the
use of neutral flags by belligerent
merchantmen might be discussed IN
diplomatic channels with both Germany
charge made by Germany that a Brit
ish order was in existence permitting
such changes of flag.
No Decision Reached.
The minister from the Netherlands,
acting on the first published reports
concerning the closing of navigation
along the Dutch coast. inquired of Act
ing Secretary Lansing as to what the
attitude of the United States might
be. but learned that no decision had
been reached in view of the incom-
pleteness of the information available
here.
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice. the British am
bassador, asked Mr.. Lansing as to the
difference between the official text and
published reports. and inasmuch as the
State Department is caring for the
diplomatic interests of Germany and
Great Britain. the proclamation prob
ably will be formally transmitted
through its channels.
Recall American Record.
A., ..<..,Il&co,.s;oro ~ tho Doo.
sibilities of injury to neutral shipping,
Irrespective of future action by the
United States, State Department off,
cials recalled that the record Of the
American government in sinking ships
which endeavored to run the blockade
during the civil war, contained some
cases in which innocent lives were lost
AS the German proclamation does not
prescribe blockade, there Is no war
chant ship. in the view of many Off
Gals here, without first determining
the character and destination Of the
vessel and taking off passengers and
crew.
Course Of omcials.
While high officials declined to inti-
mate what their course would be. it
was evident that the American govern
ment would not protest against the
designation of water areas as zones
of war" but would endeavor to learn
what protection would be afforded by
the German navy to American ships
which did pass through the danger
lines.
1t was regarded as unlikely in many
ouarters that beyond statement OF
the American governments expecta
tion that neutral ships bearing non
contrab band cargoes would be respected
and that passengers and crew wouio
he taken off neutral vessels which
might be considered lawful prizes of
war, no other diplomatic action would
be taken.