Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-02-21
ENGLAND's SOU GOES 10 wAn.

AH.N0b4SAND y pOCtt GOEo w W an.
Premier AsQuiths speech in the
British House Of Commons on Tues
day was followed by the issuance Of
two orders in Council pregnant with
epochal possibilities to both the
British people and ourselves, = says
Bernard IL Ridder in one of his re-
cent articles on tho war situation.
The Premier alluded to the
staggering cost of the war to date
and asserted the determination Of
the Government to exert its maxi
mum strength from now on to
bring it to the earliest possible sue
cessful conclusion The order in
Council which succeeded these re-
marks, within the space of few
hours, is accepted as evidence that
England is at last putting her soul
into the war.
With the soul militant OF the
English people we have no concern,
so long as its activities are confined
to others than ourselves. When,
however it's activities give promise,
as they do in this case, to adversely
| affect our interests we are entitled
to examine them and to take such
measures to protect ourselves as
conditions may seem to demand
"The first Of these order in Coun-
Gil provides that after March lst
no British ship exceeding 500 tons,
except it is engaged in the coasting
trade, shall be allowed to proceed
on any voyage unless a license to do
so Is granted by the Board Of
Trade.
THE right of the British Govern
ment to take such action will not be
contested The purpose of the Gov
ernment is obviously to place itself
in possession OF means by which ii
can not only guarantee a sufIlciency
of bottoms to feed and arm itself
from abroad but, under the plea Of
wartime necessity, divert British
shipping from the ordinary trade OF
neutrals customaiily dependent upon
it,
II was limited from London a few
days ago that should the United
States insist upon the principle that
the arming or merchantmen de-
strOys her commercial character,
Great Britain would retaliate by re-
fusing to allow any British shipping
to enter American ports not cx-
clusively engaged in the service OF
the Allies The British Govern
ment has now equipped itself with
the machinery for carrying out this
program--though our own has beat
hasty retreat from it's convictions
Of a few weeks agoand its proce-
durc under the new Order in Coun-
Gil viii bear watching. Any attempt
TO use the privileges given it to the
unnecessary annoyance OF American
trade may be expected to be resented
by this country We are not at war
with Great Britain, and it would be
well for the latter to remember that
we do not care to have our trade
treated as If we were.
"A second point should not be
forgotten. The order referred to
makes every British vessel exceed
ing 500 tons virtually, IL not tech
nically, government vessel. and
vessel chartered by belligerent
government for war service Is en-
titled to none OF the immunitics OF a
private trader. The British Govern
ment has informally chartered the
entire merchant marine OF the coun-
try, avowedly for the purpose OF
confining its operations TO supply
ing Great Britain and her allies with
| the means Of supporting the war,
! Were q German submarine TO make
the mistake Of sinking one OF these
merchantmen it is questionable il
we would be compelled to make the
mistake Of protesting.
THE other Order in Council gives
to certain Government Departments
the power to seize any war material,
food, forage or stores of any des-
cription or any article requisite to
their production, and also to take
possession Of any factory in which
goods OF any description needed for
war purposes may be manufacturer.
AS a corollary to this order a Royal
| Proclamation has been issued pro-
hibiting the importation after March
lst, except by permission Of the
Board of Trade, OF all material for
the manufacture Of paper tobacco IN
In all It's forms, stones, states, and
certain classes OF wood.
The purpose Of the British Gov
ernment in taking this advanced ac-
tion is perfectly clear The pro-
scribed articles arc Of little value in
| the prosecution OF the war--and that
is Britain's business just now. The
supply on hand is sufficient for
some time to come. 1t would be q
waste OF cargo room to import more
at present, when such room is sadly
| needed to transport raw and fin
ished raw material from this coun-
| try. Once moro, Great Britain is
entirely within her rights, and we
cannot complain until it is shown
that she Is purposely working
against our trade privileges The
important point to be remembered is
that the war is costing this country
a great deal more than is generally
/ appreciated That while it Is Great
! ing fortunes for some it is destroy
! ing the fortunes of others, The ball
ance is against the interests Of the
country as whole, and this condi-
! tion viii 90 from bad to worse with
daily increasing rapidity until the
war IL over II Is patiently to our
advantage, therefore, that it should
be brought to an end at as early a
! date Il possible. And we arc en-
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