ACCORDING TO LAW

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 264, 27 November 1939, Page 3

ACCORDING TO LAW

ALLIED METHOD OF REPRISAL FACING NEAV FORM OF GERMAN PIRACY SOAVING OF HIGH SEAS WITH MINES GIVING HEED TO RIGHTS OF • , tJ , NEUTRALS \ ' t ■ RUGBY, Nov. 24. A demarche claiming all of Holland’s rights under international law respecting any measures the British Government might take in accordance with the derision already announced to make German exports on the high seas subject to seizure was made yesterday at the Foreign Office by the Netherlands Minister. Tile British action which will be defined in an Order-in-Council, a draft of which- is now under consideration will, in fact, be in strict accordance with international law which, generally speaking only- requires that measures of reprisal taken must not be disproportionate with the injuries inflicted. In the British view this condition i.s fulfilled in the present ease. It is further pointed out that the disadvantages to neutrals entailed by the proposed British action arc in no way disproportionate to those suffered by them as a result of German action. Lives of Women and Children That losses have been inflicted, not only on property, but also in the lives of women and children of Britain and neutral countries through the indiscriminate laying of unannounced drifting mines by , Germany, contrary to international law, is now admitted by the German wireless, as well as illegal sinkings by German submarines. Historically, the ultimate purpose of international law has been largely to safeguard neutral rights. The past record of the British and German Governments towards international law is known to the neutral world which, doubtless, ha.s reached its own conclusion as to which of the- present belligerents is likely to pay the greatest regard to neutral rights. This part of international law .was framed long before the intervention of submarines or modern mines. 41110 result of these inventions is now that it is no longer possible to impose an effective blockade-. It is inevitable that now precedents to deal with these now forms of piracy should be created.

WASHED ASHORE TWO HUNDRED MINES ANOTHER SHIP LOST DAMAGE r l’o SWEEPER. DUTCH SURVIVORS' LONDON. Nov. 24. 'two hundred German mines have been washed ashore on the Yorkshire (•cast. The steamer Mangalore was sunk by a mine while anchored off the east coast. All 77 of the crow were rescued, an explosion occurred in the engine room and some members of the crew were thrown overboard. The Admiralty has announced that tin* mine-sweeper Aragonite was damaged by a mine close to the. coast. Four ratings were seriously injured Tugs took off all tin* crew and) attempted to rush the mine-sweeper to the beach, but she sank in shallow water.

A British ship picked up seven of the, 11 missing members of the crew of the Arlington Court, which was torpedoed off the Irish coast. Nine of those picked up were admitted to hospital.

. Five survivors of tin* Diitch steamer Sliedrccht, which was sunk by a submarine, were landed on the north-west coast. They spent 7J- days in an open beat- before- they were picked up by a trawler.

The submarine commander examined the ship’s papers, hut ignored assurances that it was a neutral vessel bound for a neutral port. The crew were ordered into the boats, after which the ship was sunk. 'The* crew totalled 31. There is no news of the remainder. The survivors said the ship was stopped in the Atlantic*. The U-boat commander refused ‘To take on the crew and transfer them to another vessel.