The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-07
unavoidable Accident"

Comparing the embassy statement
that In general American vessels going
TO England will not be molested with
the statements In the Admiralty proc
lamation regarding the dangers of
neutral ships being the victims of at
tack meant for enemy ships, the con-
clusiOn was reached here tonight that
the German Government Is dlsaVowing
In advance responsibility for any accl-
dent Detailing a neutral vessel In the
waters prescribed. In other words,
that should an American or other ueu-
trail vessel be sunk IL would he declared
trail vessei he sunk it would Doe declared
by Germany to have been an unavoid-
able accident.
Reports from New York indicated that
Germany can or will make 1t rs danger
Gus for neutral vessels to so to England
rs the Admiralty announcement would
Indicate This fact was observed with
considerable satisfaction at the State
Department However, since there is no
doubt felt here that the real purpose Of
the German announcement Is to bring
about the cutting Off OF British supplies.
1t is believed the Germans will meet this
situation by seeing that some accident
befalls a British or neutral vessel in
kind after February Is will. 1t is be-
lieved, send insurance rates skyrocketing
and make the British people pay enor-
nous prices for their food and supplies.
This Is regarded as precisely what the
German purpose conemplates
II now seems likely that there will be
no action taken by this Government in
the matter unless the Admiralty memo
raudum states intentions more inimCal
20 the safety Of neutral shipping than IA
Indicated I'm the official announcement.
At the state Department it is held that
this Government can hardly protest
against an action which IL merely de-
clarcd To be a possibility in advance OF
the actual occurrence. The first disaster
TO an American vessel or the first sink
ing OF "A British merchantmen on which
there are Americans or American prop
erty without due regard being shown for
such lives and property will undoubtedly
be made the occasion for most serious
representations to the German Govern
ment
Robert Lansing. counsellor Of the
state Department and acting Secretary
In Mr.. Bryan's absence on a speaking
trip, to-day conferred with the President
on this subject. lie also discussed II
with the Netherlands Minister. The
Minister was informed that the corrected
text Of the Admiralty announcement
showed that the Dutch coast was left
free and not covered by the danger
zone as was thought Yesterday 81
Cecil Spring Rice, the British Amhassi-
dor also called at the State Department
TO learn the exact provisions Of the Ad-
mlralty decree. and the matter was dis
Cussed In a general way by him and Mr.
Lansing.
The corrected text Of tho Admiralty
announcement is as follows.
The waters around Great Britain In
Guiding the whole Of the English Chan.
mel, are declared hereby to be included
within the zone Of war and after IN,
18Th inst. all enemy merchant vessels
encountered In these waters viii be de-
stroyed even II II may not be possible
always to save their crews and pas
sengers
within this war zone neutral vessel
are exposed to danger since in view OF
the misuse of the neutral flags ordered
by the Government of Great Britain or
the 3lst ult., and OF the hazards OF
naval warfare. neutrals cannot always
be prevented from suffering from the
attacks intended for enemy ships.
The routes OF navigation around tht
north Of the shetland Islands I'm IN,
eastern part of the North Sea and in q
strip thirty miles wide along the Dutcj
coast are not open to the danger zone,