Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-23
Retaliation Against German
War Zone Extension
Certain.
WILL NECESSITATE
IGNORING PROTEST
Offer Of Germany to Rescind Degree
Provided Great Britain Would Back
Up Will Result in Placing United
States Shipping in More Precarious
Postion-Evelyn's Destruction May
Result in Benefits to Germany.

[John Calan O'Laughlin in Chicago
Herald.l
Washington, Feb. 23.--In spite of the
warning given by Secretary Bryan,
Great Britain will issue an order in
council in retaliation for the Berlin
war zone decree.
Official information to this effect has
been received in Washington.
Altho Winston Churchill, first lord OF
the admiralty, announced last week
the purpose of the British government,
formal action was delayed to await the
result of the negotiations between the
United States and Germany,
1t is thus apparent that the British
government will not assent to the bar
gain proposed by Germany under which
the Berlin decree would be rescinded II
Great Britain would permit foodstuffs
to reach German ports.
British to Tighten Hold.
AS a matter of fact, Great Britain
proposes to tighten the band arounC
Germany's throat. Before doing Sc
she is consulting neutral powers, m
Guiding the United States, in order to
lessen their objection to the plan she
has under consideration.
That plan constitutes in effect a
blockade, tho it will not be termed
such. The London government Is a
determined champion of the principle
that a blockade in order to be binding
must be effective. This principle is OF
paramount Importance to the British
Isles.
Departure from it would give founda-
ton for a claim on the part OF Ger
many that the Berlin decree is justlhed
Moreover, submarine and airship war
fare makes almost impossible the main
tenance of force sufficient to pre-
vent the ingress to and egress of yes
sells from a port proclaimed In a state
of blockade.
Evelyn Outside War Zone.
The purpose of Great Britain has
dwarfed in the official mind the ac-
cidcnt sustained by the American
steamer Evelyn at Borkum Island
The administration is satisfied, from
the official advices in it's possession
that the Evelyn was outside the war
zone" proclaimed by the German gov
ernment and therefore the latter can
not be held responsible to that meas
ure of strict accountability threat
ened in the protest made against the
Berlin decree.
Secretary Bryan saw President Will
son at the White House last evening
about the Evelyn affair, and it was an
nounced that Henry Van Dyke. Amer
ican minister to the Netherlands
would be instructed to make an in
vestigation of the sinking Of the vessel
Dr. Van Dyke is at The Hague and
presuma bly, is acquainted with the
character Of the mines thrown upor
the Holland coast. 1t is believed here
also that it was not deemed advisable
to take Ambassador Gerard from Ber-
lin at this time to have him make the
investigation.
Naval Attache to Act.
It is regarded as highly probable
that the Evelyn came in contact with
mine placed to defend Borkum Is
land or the mouth of the River Ems
AS was stated. Commander
Gherhardi the American naval
attache in Berlin. will supplement the
investigation begun by the American
Ambassador He will report as soon as
possible the exact location Of the
Evelyn at the time a hole was torn in
it's side and state whether or not ii
lies within the proclaimed German
field.
Expect U. S. to File Claim.
The United states will file claim
for damages in order to reimburse the
war insurance bureau. which insured
the steamer, provided of course 1t can
be established that the German pro-
cedure with the requirements of in
ternational law or the master OF the
vessel was not negligent.
The accident suffered by the Evelyn
however, is expected to have a ma
terial effect upon future commerce di-
rect with Germany. In the note OF
Feb. Is to the United States, the Ger
man government stated that it's terri
tory 'is as good as cut off from hel
overseas supply by the silent protest
ing liberation of neutrals.'
1t is hardly to be believed thai
American shippers will care to run the
risk of losing their vessels and car
goes. in view of the fate Of the Evelyn
Moreover, the disaster to the Evelyr
is rega rded as a partial answer a
least 10 tne NIeTIldii VI lil'
failure of the United States to trade
with Germany. Rid the seas of DANCE,
and trading will be resumed is wha
the American government now can sa,
to the Berlin authorities.
In official circles there is a good dea
of concern manifested over. the an
nouncement made from London. ever
though unofficial. that British mer
chant ships are to be armed and in
structed to attack any German sub
marine sighted. Under existing prin-
ciples of international law neutra
goods on board an enemy merchant
man are not subject to seizure unlcs.
contraband of war. But il those good:
are on board an enemy merchant shiY
armed with guns under orders tt
battle with n hostile craft then the.
can be seized and the neutral has nt
redress.