THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, September 20, 1940. THE BLOCKADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24408, 20 September 1940, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, September 20, 1940. THE BLOCKADE

An important function of the British naval blockading squadrons is that of intercepting all ships passing to or from enemy ports as well as ships that are suspected of carrying cargo which, although consigned to a neutral destination, might nevertheless be destined for enemy use. In the European war of 1914-18 the system of blockade, as implying the prevention of the enemy’s sea-borne commerce, was introduced at ah early stage and gradually developed into an effective and virtually a decisive weapon. Actually it was not until the beginning of 1916 that the British Government had managed to evolve the complex system of com-merce-prevention which . continued in operation until the end of the war, and which had to include the control of trade between neutral States so that Germany would not be able to purchase supplies from those sources. The regular processes of visit, search, and either confiscation or detention of cargoes were followed then, as they now are. The system, nevertheless, still does not aim at the destruction, without warning, of any vessel entering the blockade area, regardless of the fact that that form of indiscriminate sea warfare is practised by the Germans. The prevention of delivery of cargoes useful to the enemy is its sole purpose, and to that end the most rigorous control is enforced. Toward the end of the last war the practice of “ black-listing ” ships which attempted to run the blockade without regard for the requirements of the contraband control machinery proved markedly effective, and the same methods are being resorted to again, as has been announced, for the discouragement of shipping which prefers the risks of evasion to the procedure required under the navicert system. Great Britain is, in brief, determined to enforce the blockade to the absolute limits of practicability, and she has given due warning of her intention. Further evidence of British thoroughness in respect of the blockade is provided in the announcement that units of the R.A.F. have completed the task of laying 30 new minefields, stretching from the coast of Norway to the Bay of Biscay and approaching, in some cases, to within a stone’s throw of enemy quaysides. Week by week, it will be seen, the effectiveness of the blockade is being increased, in the hope that, as the struggle progresses, Germany will find herself more and more completely cut off from all sources of supply except those accessible to her by other than the great ocean routes.