The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-06

OF merchant vessels, whether neutral
Or enemy. an obligation on every bel
ligerent.
1T is upon this basis that all pre-
vious discussions of the law for reg
ulating warfare at sea have proceed
ed. A German submarine, however,
fulfills none of these obligations; she
enjoys no local command of the
waters In which she operates; she
does not take her capture with
In the jurisdiction Of a prize court;
she carries no prize crew which
can be put on board a prize; she
uses no effective means Of discrimi-
mating between a neutral and an en-
emy vessels: she does not receive on
board for safety the crew and pas
sengers of the vessels she sink. The
methods OF warfare are, therefore,
entirely outside the scope of any in
ternational instruments regulating
operations against commerce in time
Of war. The German declaration sub
stitutes indiscriminate destruction for
regulated capture. Germany is ADOPT
ing these methods against peaceful
traders and the noncombatant crews
with the avowed object of preventing
commodities Of all kinds, Including
food for the civilian population, from
reaching or leaving the British Isles
or northern France.
Her opponents are, therefore.
driven to frame retaliatory measures
In order In their turn to prevent com.
moditles OF any kind from reaching
or leaving Germany.
These measures will, however, be
enforced by the British and French
governments without risk to neutral
ships or to neutral or noncombatant
life and In strict obervance of the
dictates Of humanity. The British
and French governments will there
fore. hold themselves free to detain
and take into port ships carrying
goods or presumed enemy destina-
ton. ownership or origin. 1t is not in
tended to confiscate such vessels or
cargoes unless they would otherwise
be liable to condemnation. The treat
ment OF vessels which sail before this
date will not be affected.
This Is our reply"
The reading of the statement was
frequently with loud
cheers.
Admiral Lord Charles Beresford in
vited the premier to state whether
Germans who engaged In submarine
attacks or raids on unfortified towns
and were captured would be tried for
Mr.. Asquith declined TO give
any definite assurance, but he said
NO doubt the government will take
into seIious consideration what is the
status under international law of per-
sons engaged in this campaign"
Referring again to the proposed re-
taliatory measures, the premier said:
II may say that the suggestion
which has been put forth from Ger
man quarters that we have rejected
certain proposals or suggestions made
to two powers by the United States Is
untrue. All we have stated to the
United States so far Is that we have
taken this matter into careful consid-
GRAFTON. in consultation with our al
lies
Mr.. Asquith ridiculed what he called
the German theory Of blockade and
asked: "Where'is the German fleet?
ut has been seen on the sea only
twice since the war began, he said.
and its object in both cases was "mur-
der and wholesale destruction Of
property and undefended towns" He
described the German campaign
against British shipping as grotesaue
and puerile and said 1t was per-
version of language to call 1t block
ade.
The gravity of our immense task
increases each month";" he continued.
'The call for men has been responded
to nobly. both at home and throughout
the empire. That call has never been
more urgent than today. We must
draw on all our resources. both ma
terial and spiritual. We have not re-
laxed. nor shall we relax until the
pursuit Of every one Of our ends IS
accomplished"