The Dominion. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1915. BRITAIN'S TIGHTENING GRIP

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2382, 11 February 1915, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1915. BRITAIN'S TIGHTENING GRIP

The • threat of Germany to blockade the British coasts by means of submarines is a matter that concerns the United States more than any other neutral Power. The following figures will give some idea of the extent to which the trade of the United States is likely to be affected by the action of Germany and the reply thereto by Great Britain. America's domestic and foreign exports in 1912-13 to the' European countries principally affected were: Dollars. United Kingdom 597,150,307 Germany 331,68-1,212 France 146,100,201 Belgium 60,845,11)2 Netherlands 125,909,562 Sweden 12,101,306 Norway 8,391,-158

The Germans are not at all pleased with tbc attitude of the United' •States. Their vigorous propaganda work in that country has proved rather a failure, and from fulsome praise they have turned to unrestrained bitterness. They have even dropped dark hints that America would be made to suffer in some way for giving Germany the cold shoulder.' "Take no trouble, you Germans, to convince Americans or to win their sympathies. This does not lie within the region of possibilities." So writes a German-Ameri-can in a letter which recently appeared in the Frankfurter Zcitung. "The Press and people of the United States'," says the writer, "will have nothing to do with you." Though the American Government has made no official protest against German breaches of , international law, a large and influential, section of the Amorican people decline to accept the view that their mouths are closed by the law of neutrality. 1)k. Hillis, a leading New York clergyman, recently declared that neutrality-does not mean the wiping out of convictions. He emphatically declined to "add' God and the Devil together and divide by two in the name of neutrality." The severe condemnation which the best newspapers have meted out to the' organised brutality of the Germans in Belgium and France is hotly resented in Berlin, and if the submarine "blockade" causes loss to the United States as well as to Britain the German authorities are not likely, to shed many, tears on that account. In bis original announcement of Germany's intention to destroy merchantmen ' in British waters without warning, Admiral von Tikpitz made it quite clear that the threat was partly directed _ against the United States. ■ "America did not raise her voice in protest," he said- to an American- interviewer, "and has done nothing, or ' very little, against the "closing by England of the North Sea against neutral shipping. What would America say now if Germany were to declare a submarine war against all hostile merchant vessels?" Kecent cablegrams show that American newspapers have given a very emphatic answer to the' Admiral's question, tho prevailing note being indignation and derision. They regard the threatened blockade as a farce. One journal points out that the German Navy and German merchant marine are both bottled up, and states that "until British sea power is disposed of it is fantastic for any German to' think about starving Great Britain by submarine raids." This is probably the view of the majority of .the American people,, but no one can say what will be the attitude of the American Government. A French paper published in the United States- sarcastically remarks, in answer to the German Admiral's question, that America will say nothing at all, since America did not take any action when Belgian noutra'lity was violated; when the people of Lpuvain, Tormonde,' and Senlis were butchered; when babies and children were slaughtered in. Soarborough. "How can Admiral von Tirpitz expect that America • will compromise her neutrality for mere .acts of piracy?", '■•

The German newspapers now declare that there will be no question of contraband or non-contraband in British waters after the 18th instant. This, of course, moans that it will be the deliberate aim of German submarines to sink every merchantman they can. in British waters without notice and without giving the crew a chance of escape. The fact that such a course would be a gross violation of international law is a matter of supreme indifference to the Kaiser and his advisers. It is, however, a convincing proof that the continual tightening of the grip of the British Navy on Germany's throat'is driving them to desperation. Quite recently a number of German professors of political economy issued an appeal urging the peoplo to feed on vegetables and rye Bread, leaving white bread, meat, and other delicacies for invalids. "England wants to starve us," the appeal declares. "We must therefore do everything to economise our food." The people of Germany are naturally beginning to ask what is the use of the great Navy which they have built at such tremendous cost? Why, they ask, are they in danger of starvation while the people of Britain have food in plenty 1 The authorities know that they arc not in a position to challenge Britain's naval supremacy, and yet they feel that some dramatic move must be made to put fresh heart into the nation and to give the Navy at least the appearance of justifying its existence. So Von TmpjTz lias declared Unit no fcb.fi British wish to starve jßwmaajk the, tiua*. has bqjow for

Germany to play the same game by cutting off Britain's food supply. But while Britain holds command of the sea Germany is not able- "to play the some game." She would nave done so long ago if she could. If she can set up an effective blockade by her submarines, she- would bo _in a position to interfere with Britain's military communications, and such interference would serve her purpose much better than com'merco raiding. Reinforcements and troops on leave are being constantly transported across the Channel, and yet the enemy's submarines have so far been unable to cause the loss of a single British soldier. This shows that the submarine's sphere of efficient action is limited in actual fighting, and its powers as a commerce destroyer are equally restricted. If Germany attempts to establish a blockade of _ the British coasts, Britain will certainly reply by making tho economic pressure on her foes more and more relentless. As a step in this direction she has already notified tho Powers that all foodstuffs destined for her enemies will in future be regarded as contraband. This may be a drastic measure 1 , but tt is a necessary and thoroughly justifiable one. 'For playing the starvation game Britain bolds all the best cards, and whatever Germany may do she can always "go one better."