The Washington times., 1917-01-19
Action Expected as Legitimate
Move Against American
Arms Traffic.
CONCESSION TO RADICALS
Such Is Interpretation Placed
on Semi Official Advices
From Berlin.

Germany Is planning to effect in the
near future a Submarine blockade
OF the British Isles. according to an
Interpretation placed in certain of
,cial and diplomatic quarters here
IN semi-officiaI advices recently re-
eeived from Berlin.
While 1t is understood that the
blockade will be made to apply to gen.
eral commerce, its principle purpose.
as is understood here, will be to pre-
vent food supplies and war material
from reaching English ports.
And 1t will be adopted, 1t Is under.
stood, as a legitimate means OF break
ing up the TRAFFIC in arms between
the United States and Great Britain
Partial Concession.
From the meager information thus
far received concerning the "details
Of the proposed blockade, it is as
sumed here to represent a partial
concession by the German govern.
ment to the radical element in Ger
many that has been demanding for
many months resumption OF ruth
less submarine warfare.
The cry OF this element has been
that Germany is entirely, justified in
resortins to every form OF submarine
warfare in retaliation against the
British starvation blockade" of Ger
many.
While 1t is understood that the sub
marine blockade would be conducted
as far as possible in strict accord
snce with international law, the Ger.
move of the kind designed. to "starvt
out" England will prove popular with
the German people.
New War Zone Decree.
1t is assumed here that II the plan
Is carried out the German govern
ment might give notice to neutral
powers by issuing q modified form
Of the famous "war zone decree" of
February, 1915.
This Uecree, in the form in which 1t
was then issued, brought forth a.
vigorous protest from the United
States. 1t was this protest, aimed
at the provision in the
decree warning neutral shipping, un-
der peril of destruction, against ven
rounding the British Isles, that con
tained the threat to hold Germany to
a strict accountability" IL American
property or lives were lost through
the operation Of the decree And IL
was through the operation of this de
cree that the Lusitania was sunk.
In its modified form II is understood
that the new decree-if issued-would
Germany's intention to use
submarines in effecting a blockade,
but in such a way as to safeguard
human life as far as is possible ex-
cept in the case of merchant ships
that resist capture.
Would Save Lives.
In other words, while no promise
would be made to take captured ships
into port before a German prize
court, crews and passengers would be
to a place of safety.
IN connection with the proposed
blockade, IL is indicated, use would
be made of a new type of
much larger than any
employed. According to
reports which the American
has received in recent
months from its naval attaches
the German sh1pyards have
been working night and day turning
out a fleet OF between 20 and 100
Of these large underwater craft.
Protest Expected.
Whether the United States would
protest against such a blockade, ifl
is not indicated, but the
is that she would on the
same ground that she has protested
against the British blockade; namely,
on the ground that a blockade to be
recognized must be effective, that
It should act as a block to commerce
with all countries alike.