The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-02-17
IS NOT A BLOCKADE
GERMANY WILL RESPECT SHIP
PING OF NEUTRALS.
VIII Take Every Caution to Avoid
Mistake and the Sinking of Neutral

ships.
Berlin reports that Germany's nav
al measures against British COM
merce are in no sense blockade. NO
hostile action against neutral ship
ping is contempted German sub
marines and warships will endeavor
by every means in their power to
avoid sinking neutral ships and will
take every precaution to avoid mis-
take. This may be taken as the cor
rect Interpretation Of the German
proclamation as expressed in compe-
tent circles in Berlin.
The proclamation declaring waters
around Great Britain to be war
zone like similar British measures
taken as a precedent, is designed, it
is asserted, to warn neutrals that a
ship venturing into the naval field
Of operations exposes itself as does a
civilian wandering on battlefield.
1t was stated that it might be safe
ly asserted that the Germans do not
intend sinking an American ship un-
less she carries contraband, and then
only if her crew can be given the
however, that war measures would
be carried out against British trade
possibility Of escape. 1t was added,
with all possible severity in order Ito
give England taste of her own
medicine"
The warning to neutral shipping,
| it was asserted, was considered as
particularly needed in view Of the re-
ported order to British ships to hoist
neutral flags when they are in dan
ger, an order, which if adhered to,
| it was stated, would make it diff
cult FOR a German warship to d1scrim-
mate between neutral and hostile
shipping.
A number Of the German neTspa'
pers assert that the memorandum &C
| ccmpanying the proclamation of Feb
ruary made it clear that Germany
does not intend starting a wal
against neutral trade. They declare
however, that Germany was within
he. rights in declaring the zone
around the British islands a wal
area in which it Is dangerous fol
neutral vessels to venture on accoun;
| of mines or naval operations.
| The newspapers assert that If the
United States wishes to protest Il
should do so first to Great Britain
whose alleged abuse of neutral flags
as was reported in the case Of the
Lusitania, threatens, they say, the
safety of all ships.
The Vossische Zeitung declare!
that it welcomes the incident as the
occasion for a free interchange o.
views between Germany and the
United States, which may result, like
the pending Anglo-American nego
tiations on the protest against delay:
to commerce, in clearing up the sit
uation.
IF America feels called upon t
send 3 protest to Berlin says th'
vossische Zeitung, It will be met il
quite as friendly a spirit as in Lon
don, and will find Germany ready t
establish by joint discussion wha
Germany, while maintaining the vita
interests, which are as vital to he.
as they are to England, can do t.
avoid as far as possible the damagin:
of the American interests"
AS to the danger announced in th'
German warning, the newspaper says
in many cases it will be impossible t.
protect neutral ships against it. It i
not q question Of a German subma
rine torpedoing neutrals in the be
! lief that they are illegally flying ;
neutral flag, but rather question o
risk from mines.
when the Government declared
certainwaters as war area to-
vossische Zeitung continues, "It re
served the right to use all permissi
blewar measures therei2, and it viii
not make a later specific declaration
of where and when mines are lait
within these waters after Februar.
49,"