HAGUE CONVENTION VIOLATED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 731, 19 December 1914, Page 5

HAGUE CONVENTION VIOLATED.

A BARBARIC ACT.

London, Thursday

When the British destroyers appeared on the scene the stemy's bigger ships desisted from their bombardment of the Yorkshire coast and retired. Some minor engagements were not productive of decisive results on either side. Narratives of eye witnesses Bhow that men, women, and children were killed, and others wounded Indignation has been universally aroused by the attack, which, in. the casn of puch undefended towns as Whitby and Scarborough, was a manifest violation of The liaguo Convention. The public indignation is exceeded only by sympathy fur tho victims of a barbaric act. It is generally agreed by experts that the bombardment wns out of (he control of the North Sea Fleet', which cannot be everywhere. Moreover, the blockade of the German coasts is not a close blockade as in wars of the olden davs. The Admiralty point out that' demonstrations of this character against unfortunate towns and commercial ports are easy of accomplishment provided that a certain amount of risk is accepted. They ore devoid of military Bignificancp, ;t.ml. while they may cause loss of life to civilians, they must in no bo allowed to modify the general naval policy which is being pursued.