On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 32, 9 February 1915, Page 5

On the Sea

APPEARANCE OF THE BRESLAU

United Press Association. Petrograd, February S. The cruiser Breslau, after exchanging shots with the fortress at Batumi, retired. (Batourn, a town of Russian Transcaucasia. on the Black Sea, 201 miles west of TiHis; a second Sebastopol.) TURKISH FORTS BOMBARDED BY THE ALLIES. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Athens. February 8. Four of the Allies’ torpedoers bombarded the Turkish forts at Karatipe, in the Dardanelles. One hundred and seventy-four shells were fired*, igniting two ammunition depots. USE OF NEUTRAL FLAG AS A RUSE DE GUERRE. London, February 8. The Foreign Office has i, issued a statement declaring that, with certain limitations, the use of a neutral Hag as a ruse de guerre is a well-estab-lished practice. Great Britain has always considered the use if Brlish colors by foreign vessels as legitimate for the purpose of escaping capture, chough a vessel otherwise using it is liable to forfeiture. It V. also obligatory upon the belligerents to ascertain the character of the merheant vessel and cargo before capture. Germany has no right to disregrd such ,in obligation, and therefore her intention to destroy the ship of a noncombatant is piracy. The Lusitania when nearing Ireland hoisted cue American .flag in pursuance of the Admiralty’s wireless, and arrived at Liverpool safely.

THE GERMAN BLOCKADE.

London, February 8

The chairman of an important Shipping Company, declares that ti e German threat to. blockade ’s idle It can never be carried out, and none know it better than the Germans.

Another says: ‘‘The Kaiser has made an extremely weak and foolish plagiarism of Napoleon’s Berlin and Milan decree of a hundred years ago.

New York papers describe the blockade warning as a crime of the ugh seas and new evidence of desperation. Germany is playing with

The Times’ Washington correspondent says there is not the slightest sign that the German bluff will succeed. Philadelphia, New York, and Ecston announce that no sailings are being cancelled, and everywhere confidence is expressed in the British fleet. It is felt that Germany has blundered, and by a few- strokes of the pen obliterated the impression •which propagandists have been diligently raising. The Germans have created an unexpected and favoraole atmosphere for settlement of AngloAmerican trade difficulties. Copenhagen, February 8.

German newspapers are astounded at neutrals condemning the blockade. A telegram from Berlin states that the Government will disregard friendly or unfriendly protests, adding that the treatment of neutrals’ vessels in future depends on the attitude of their respective Governments. Amsterdam, February 8.

The German Government declares its readiness to entrust the management of food importations to an American organisation.

New York, February 8

The Sun says that wfyile it is of the greatest importance to America to hold aloof from the war, it will be her duty to notify Germany that any attempt to interfere with American commerce in any zone will be resented with all her resources.

THE WORLD’S JOKE.

REGULAR NAVIGATION TRIPS.

Times and Sydney Sun Service (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, February 8.

It is reported that regular navigation is contemplated between .Rotterdam 2 Liverpool, and Manchester. The Daily Mail comments: It is often said that different nations have rarely appreciated the same jokes, but the joke of the German blockade mot with instantaneous success. What, perhaps, particularly tickles the world’s sense of humour is the crudity of the attempt to frighten not only Britain, but the United States, two countries inhabited by peoples who are not commonly supposed to mistake turnips for spooks or lose their nerve without at least some provocation.