The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-10
OS1ARYE GERMANY
ALLIES INTEND TO cut OFF ALL
TIE COMMERCE
WILL STOP ALL Ships

WILL stop ALL Ships
British Prime Minister Announces
That England and Her Friends
VIII Absolutely Cut Enemies Off
From All Commerce at Sea-
Would Stop All Vessels.
II the combined fleets of Great
Britain and France can prevent 1t, no
commodities OF any kind except those
now on the seas henceforth until the
conclusion of the war shall reach or
leave the shore Of Germany.
This is England's answer to Ger
many's submarine blockade, and it is
TO be effective forthwith
Premier Asquith, reading from a
prepared statement, made the an
nouncement in the House Of Com
mons Monday at q session which Will
be historic. Studiously avoiding the
terms blockade" and "contraband"
for these words occur nowhere in
: the prepared statementvthe premier
explained that the allies considered
! themselves justified in attempting,
and would attempt, s'to detain and
take into port ships carrying goods
{ Of presumed enemy destination, own
ershso or origin"
The premier emphasized, however,
that vessels and cargoes so seized
were not necessarily liable to confis-
cato nand begged the patience Of
neutral countries in the face Of step
likely 20 injure them. He added that
the measures had been adopted by
the allies in self-defense.
I'VE are quite prepared" he went
on, "to submit to the arbitrament Of
1 neutral opinion, and still more to the
verdict of impartial history that in
the circumstances in which. we have
Z been placed we have been moderate;
we have been restrained from things
that we were provoked and tempted
TO do, and We have adopted policy
which commen6s itself to reason, to
common sense and to justice"
Every member Of the house not at
the front or unavoidably detained
was In his seat and there was fre-
quent cheering. The galleries were
packed. When the premier conclud-
: ed his statement, and, turning to the
speaker, said: e"That, sir, is our re-
ply" Immediately there was tre-
mendous outburst.
Curious1y, the German reply to the
American note seeking to solve the
situation growing out Of Germany's
: declaration Of naval war zone was
handed to Ambassador Gerard at Ber-
lin Monday and Premier Asquith, in
his speech, said that Great Britain
Z and her allies were still considering
I carefully the American note to them
on the same subject. That the Brit
ish government had rejected the pro-
posal, he declared, was "quite un-
true y
The tremendous cost Of modern
warfare, which the premier estimat-
ed now at $7,5o0,0eo daily to the
allies alone and likely to grow to
So, 100000 or more by April, was the
theme of that part Of the address not
dealing with the blockade. The pre-
mier gave these figures in asking for
a supplementary vote~of credit: max
mgea total Of s1,S10,000,00c to pros
ecute the war to March 81, 1915
which the house unanimously grant
ed.
The entire struggle with Napoleon
cost England only about SIS, ,155, ,900,-
{ 600 and the South African war only
$1,e55,0 000, 200, according to Mr.. As
quith.
Before the premier had finished
the newspapers were on the streets
proclaiming "Our Answer to Ger
many in big letters, and it was ap-
{ parent everywhere that the entire ma
ton had been ehafng for reprisals
against the sinking of merchant craft
oy submarines.
The statement is as follows:
Germany has declared that the
{ English channel, the north and west
coasts OF France and the waters
around the British Isles are war
area, and has officially notified that
all enemy ships found in that area
would be. destroyed and that neutral
vessels may be exposed to danger.
This is in. effect claim to torpedo at
sight, without regard to the safety OF
the crew or passengers, any merchant
vessel under any flag. AS it is not il
the power Of the German admiralty
y to maintain any surface craft in these
waters this attack can only be deliv-
cred by submarine agency.
.1rhe law and customs Of nations
In regard to attacks on commerce
have always presumed that the duty
OF the captor Of merchant vessel is
TO bring It before prize court where
II may be tried, where the regularity
OF the capture may be challenged and
where neutrals may recover their car
goes. The sinking Of prizes is in It.
self O questionable act to be resorted
to only in extraordinary circum-
stances and after provision has been
made for the safety OF all the crew
and passengers. II there are passen-
gers on board the responsibility o!
discriminating between neutral and
Il enemy vessels and between neutral
and enemy cargo obviously rests with
the attacking ship, whose duty st Is
to verify the status and character OF
the vessel and cargo and to preserve
Ipapers before sinking or even cap
turing 1t. So also is the humane
duty Of providing for the safety OF
the crew Of merchant vessels, wheth-
er neutral or enemy, an obligation on
every belligerent.
-. sit is upon this basis that all pre-
yfous discussion Of the law for .regu-
Iating warfare at sea have proceeded.
a. German submarine, however, full
! fills none of these obligations; she
Z enjoys no local. command Of the
waters in which she operates; she
does not take her capture within the
jurisdiction Of a prize court; she car
ries no prize crew which can be put
on board a prize; she uses no efec-
tive means Of disc Eliminating between