New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-22
In Reprisal Great Britain
Lays Heavy Restraints on
All Neutral Shipping
Admiralty Lord Tells
Of U-Boat Defences
Forty Encounters with Ger.
man Submarines in First
l8 Days of February
BY ARTHUR s. DRAPER
BY Cabls 20 Ths Tribune

London, Feb. 2.-Brltain's new
sea regulations, announced to-day
and prompted by Germany's subma-
rine campaign, mean the tightening
of her blockade Of the Central Pow
ers to a point of almost complete
isolation of the Teutonic countries.
1t is far and away the most drastic
step Britain has taken on the sea,
and means that the civil head Of the
navy, Sir Edward Carson, dominates
the Foreign Office, which has IA
vored more moderate policy for
fear of infringing on neutral rights.
Naturally, the Scandinavian coun-
tries will be affected greatly, as they
will be unable to trade with Ger
many without running the risk of
the seizure of their ships and car
goes. AS Germany's submarine
blockade prevents them from deal.
ing with England and her allies, they
are shut off from the sea on all sides
and must remain self-supporting un-
I'll the war ends or the regulations
on either side are raised.
Blockade Is Alright
Those Britons who have advocated
an alright blockade as an important
factor in the winning OF the war now
have their strongest wishes realized.
Whether the new regulations will havs
material effect on the enemy at this
late date remains to be seen. II is
extremely doubtful whether they would
have gone into effect at all had not
Germany run amuck on the sea.
The possibility that the mine
blockade may have caught many
U-boats out. and make this return
impossible, is being commented on with
much interest here At least once
before the Admiralty succeeded in
trapping several U-boats. and it is
hoped that the new measures may re-
suit i'm an even larger "catch."
New Order in Council
The order reads:
Whereas, these enemy orders ars
in fragrant contradiction of the rules
of international law, the dictates Of
humanity and treaty obligations Of
the enemy, and render il necessary for
further measures to be adopted in
order to maintain the efficiency Of
those previously taken to prevent com
modities reaching or leaving enemy
countries;
His majesty has ordered that the
following directions shall be observed
respecting all vessels which sail from
their port of departure after the date
Of this order:
First: A vessel which is encoun-
tered at sea on the way TO or from a
port in any neutral country affordirg
means of access 10 enemy territory
without calling at a port in British or
allied territory shall, until the con-
trary is established, be deemed to bs
carrying goods with enemy destins-
tion or Of enemy origin, and shall be
brought in for examination, and, II nee
essary, for adjudication before a prize
court
Second: Amy vessel carrying goods
with enemy destination or Of enemy
origin shall be liable 20 capture and
condemnation, in respect OF the car
riage Of such goods; provided, that in
the case of any vessel which calls at
an appointed British or allied port for
examination of her cargo no sentence
of condemnation shall be pronounced
except on carriage Of goods Of enemy
origin or destination. and no such pre-
sumption as laid down in Article I
shall arise.
Third: Goods which are found on
examination Of any vessel 70 be goods
OF enemy origin or destination shall
De liable 70 condemnation"