THE BLOCKADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2679, 27 January 1916, Page 5

THE BLOCKADE

STRANGULATION METHODS ESSENTIAL THAT WAY LIES VICTORY ATTITUDE OF NEUTRALS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ("Times" and Sydney "Sim" Services.) London, January 25. Mr. J. L. Garvin, editor of the "Observer,". in an articlc, remarks {hat Sir Edward Grey's repudiation of the charge that the Foreign Office was practically feeding the Germans has not sottled public conviction that more strangulation measures are possible. Naval opinion on both sides of the Atlantic agrees that it is now practicable to replace the illegal Orders-m-Council by a declared and regularised blockade. Other publicists point out that victory is more and more depending upon strangulation of our enemies by the Navy. OPINION IN SCANDINAVIA BITTER ANTI-BRITISH FEELING. Stockholm, January 25. Swedish industry has already suffered through the dearth of raw materials. Owing to the lack of sulphate, some of the paper mills are closing down. The proposed tightening of the blockade is bitterly discussed. The _ suggestion of putting the nation on rations is regarded as impracticable and humiliating. The figures showing an increase of Swedish imports are exaggerated, and are due to the import of home necessities from the United States instead of from belligerents. Christians, January 25. Opinion, especially that in industrial circles, is bitterly anti-British. The control of the seas is thought to be too arbitrary, in view of the fact that no goods are in transit to Germany. • The officers of the Customs and police are most watchful, and enforco the prohibitions against export by confiscation, fine, and imprisonment. FOREBODINCS IN DENMARK. , Copenhagen, January 25. The legality of the Orders-in-Council has never boon admitted, but tho Orders were accepted calmly because of Great Britain's war necessities. It is, understood that if the trade agreements fail, there will bo a reversal of publio opinion against England. . Evil forebodings aro general.

WHAT THE GERMAN PRESS IS 1 SAYING. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, January 25. The German Press is pretending to scoff at the blockade. The Munich "Neueste Nachrichten" suggests that tightening, like the blockade itself, is mere humbug. The "Cologne Zeitung" says. "First the English tried to make ns buy articles which were not necessities, with a view to helping us to bankruptcy. Now. they are trying to starve us altogether, which is plain futility." FOREIGN OFFICE TWITTED " "OUR OYER-SQUEAMISHNESS." ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rcc. January 20, 5.10 p.m.) London, January 25. Lord. Headley. (the eminent engineer and publicist on civil engineering topics), speaking in London, said that tho nation was dissatisfied with the Foreign Office for not backing up the Navy. Apparently, he said, the Foreign Office was attempting to interfere with the object of lessening our sea power. The speaker cited recent neutral statistics in proof of our over-squeamishness towards tbe Huns! • TRADING WITH THE ENEMY LONDON GREEK FINED £450. London, January 25. Basilis Panderi, the London partnei of a Greek shipping firm, has been charged with trading with the enemy. The prosecuting counsel said that defendant had cabled three thousand pounds to his brother at Piraeus, knowing that the latter would have it sent to Constantinople. : Defendant pleaded ignorance of tho law. He was fined £450. BLOCKADE RUNNERS CAUGHT A CARGO OF "HAMMERS." (Rec. January 26, 8.15 p.m.) London, January 25. Fifteen' cases, labelled "hammers," were seized on the Swedish steamer Varna, sailing from"America to Copenhagen. The cases contained copper, brass, and aluminium filings. Sixty-nine postal parcels, which were seized on board the Dutch steamer Gelrha, contained four hundred revolvers consigned to Copenhagen, and Amsterdam by Spanish firms.

SWEDEN'S NEUTRALITY AN IMPORTANT DEBATE Stockholm, January 25. 'A debate on the Budget took place in both Houses of the Riksdag. The Libera] leader, Herr Eden, declared that the people demanded a policy of unreserved neutrality. Herr Trauting,. the Socialist leader, said he feared that in future Sweden would be unable t-o maintain firm neutrality. The. Premier (Herr Hammarskjold) urged that it was impossible to doubt that the policy of the Government was sincerely neutral, and consistently adhered to the principle of co-operating in tho common objects of neutrals, especially of Denmark and Norway. Their efforts had largely succeeded. The present grouping of the Powers was not a lasting one, and it was. possible that in tho future one of the'belligerents would regret the tearing ira of treaties and the violating of national neutrality for the sake of a doubtful temporary advantage. If Sweden had insisted less on strict commercial neutrality, she might have lessened her industrial inconveniences, although these were no more than other heutrals suffered. Herr Trauting complained that the speech was obscure in regard to neutrality. A policy of reasonable compromises waa needed if Sweden was not to allow herself to bo driven to extremes. 'Although the Premier said 1 the Government's aim was peace, thoy must remember that it might be impossible in spite of all efforts.