Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-06
LATEST ACT OF GERMANY
SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT
roniinued from First rnrnA

~ warfare, ana all OF the rules OF in
;eruaiional law are framed with spc-
0ial reference 20 ordinary ships The
ordinary practices In taking rrtzes and
dealing with tho merchan; ships Of an
enemy which II is not feasible to take
ms prizes are clearly set out and es-
'ablished by long usage. The mcr-
chantmen must be halted. boarded and
either made prize or sunk Rut in the
latter case crew ana passengers mus,
hc taken Oft
GRAVE CONCERN SHOWN
OVER IMPLIED THREATS
Will, II was noted that the procla-
nation WAS directed against enemy
ships, and applied to neutral ships
only when the attacks were meant Cor
enemy ships through suspicion of
misuse OF neutral nacs. officials OK
pressed grave concern over the implied
threat 10 SINK merchant vessels prob
ahly without warning or taking off
honcombatant passengers and crews
during consideration OF the subject
hE the state Department. American
mariners probably will he expected 10
hced the German warning and enter
iorbldden waters only at their own
RISK; precisely what they have been
DONG in the North Sea since notices
several months ago from both the Brit
'sh ana German governments tina,
owing To the planting OF mines !,
would be regarded as within tn. war
zone
inc notice from the British govern
mcht that IL is contemplating ret,li-
"Ion AGAINST German trade though
IN |, \.
lhehf to-day. has given rise IN nur,
speculation on the part OF the officials
as 10 what the British have i'm mind
NIiholSh II has been denied thar INV
"ihciai declaration that food supnIics
ar" contrahand has been issued. II is
believed that the British motto. forn.
CASTS inc speedy issue OF some such
INCARNATION. And in addition to thus
trying 10 cut of Gcrmany's food SIM
Ply by water. il is believed to he nos
Slhie that the British may make ia.
blow more severe ~ ,rd5ihi,inr ,ha
transportation or cotton To GERMANY
cotton Is Il base of some forms of
Smokeless powder as well as the high
explosive junction used in the war
mines.
Aside from dcpri.inc GERMANY Of
nat necessary article. III" British en-
lortemcnt of such an order would deal
heavy blow To the German textile
factories. which are now just begin
h,ng to receive almost normal sup
p!ics from the United states
State Department officials indicated
mat the German proclamation was
analogous In their minds To the strcw
ing OF mines III the North Sea, and n
SIMILAR announcement by Great Rrit.in
mat ncutra! shipping might he i'm
perlied there officials did not view
me German Drocla mation as a threat
10 destroy neutral ships If found I'm mo
war zone, but as warning ina, MI
ships entered there at their own risl,
III" statement In the German procla-
nation mat there is In existence a
British order 80 It's Ccot permIttin.
mem TO us" neutral flags may draw
forth AN inquiry from the United
states although Great Britain has in
connection with recent Submarine raid :
charged that ncUtra! vessels were used
rs bases
While the German proclamation il
being carefully considered at the state
department. officials manifested much
Interest as 20 the probable cfroc, OF thc
announcement on the movement OF
american SHIPS bearing munitions and
contrahnHd OF war 10 thc allies Wnil.
such vessels probably win he conyovea
into French or English ports nv war
ships OF the allies. ;hc rules OF in,cr
national law provide that neutral vcs-
sci cannot he destroyed until taken ia
prize court and duly condemned.
Under tho Declaration Of IonIo,
however. q neutral vessel which he 90
tam 10 be condemned rs a prl2c ,ra,
ne aestIoycd b. hcilicerent warsbin =
taking her Into port would impair tho
success OF the warship's operations re.
tore tae vessel is destroyed all tho nay-
sous on board must %" placed in safety
that lac acted IN the face Of nccnssji,.
Dtherwis", compensation 10 tho Injured
shipper follows
Until specinc case 81 destruction o.
IN american ship in the new war zore
develops, i vas regarded as mos- nm.
i'ReiN 'SHi any protest would be made
ny nc Cnitod states. although <,,r,bo,
iuqulr.es as TO the exact hound,rios -.
~" prohibited water areas arc cxpec,ct
10 be made.