The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-05
MONDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 5. 1917.
THE CASE OF THE HOUSATONlC.

There seems to be some mental fog in the minds
of many people, as to the rights involved in the
sinking Of neutral SHIPS carrying either merchandise
or civilian passengers.
The case Of the Housatonic, which was sunk by
German submarine on Saturday, well illustrates
the points commended for by the United States in our
controversy with Germany over the destruction Of
neutral ships.
Under all the rules and agreements Of civilized
nations, regarding the right Of blockade and capture.
when one belligerent is actually bockading an enc
mys port with Gordon Of warships and notice Of
such blockade has been given to neutral nations. a
vessel OF such neutral nation attempting to enter
such port in face of an actual blockade, does so at
its own peril
But the ship and crew must not be sunk without
fair warning and having first been called upon to
surrender and the civilian passengers have been
transferred to place Of safety.
This is all the United States has commended for
in its long drawn out controversy with Germany
The Housatonic was an American ship, sailing
from an American port, with cargo Of wheat con-
signed to the British government.
Under the circumstances, the cargo is accounted
contraband Of war and is subject to seizure and
destruction by German war vessel The Housa-
tonic was duly overhauled by German submarine
its crew transferred to place Of safety near the
English coast and the ship and cargo sunk
The owners took the risk involved and neither
they the United States government have any
right to protest, as the submarine acted in stric
accord with the rules governing both the rights Of
belGgerents and ncutrals in such case.
y j. y y - y
But some people inquire. Why should the allies
have the right to blockade German ports and the
right not be accorded the Germans as tc
British and French ports9"
The Germans, OF course, have exactly the same
right Of blockade. but the British and French fleet:
maintaining and have maintained an actua
blockade Of German ports in the North sea- where
they have the German battle fleet now pent up il
the keil canal
The Germans have no Ieet with which to es
tablish real blockade Of British and French ports
Lacking this sea power. they now declare "pape
blockade which has always been distinctly dis
avowed by every civilized nation.
The extent Of the war zone outlined in the re
cent German note is purely and simply pape
blockade" that has no force and effect, for tn
reason that the Germans have no available navy t.
enforce it. So far the legality of the demands o
the German government is concerned, this attempted
paper blockade might just as well include ever
port in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
Within the boundaries Of this paper blockade
which covers all the eastern Atlantic ocean, a POI
ton Of the North sea and about half Of the Med
lerranean' the German war office now says tia
they will sink without warning and without an
guarantee of safety to civilian passengers or crew.
any ship OF any neutral country that attempts I
enter this war zone, no matter what kind
cargo carried, except the single port of Falmouth
England, which passenger American boat p.
week come, provided ii follows certain pre-
scrbed path and with the further provision that sue
entry must be made on Sunday and departure ha
on Wednesday.
y - y =
So far as legal right extends for the assumptio
OF such unheard of power, the United States wou
have the same right to say to the nations of EuroE
that we forbid any ship of any country to approat
within certain number of miles Of the whole Sou
American coast line. under penalty Of being SUI
without warning by any American war vessel tn
might happen on the scene.
Acquescence in such an assumption of power
control the navigation Of the high seas would me-
an absolute surrender Of all claim to national SO
ereignty on the part Of the nation agreeing.
The people Of the United States want no trout
with GerpanysiCW We have heretofore shown eve
reasonable considerationifor The necessities Of
present situation, but the, recent order is wholly