Maritime Activities

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 218, 22 February 1915, Page 5

Maritime Activities

STATEMENT BY SIR EDWARD GREY. THE USE OF NEUTRAL FLAGS. AMERICA REBUKED. GERMANY'S NOVEL DOCTRINES.

Received 21, 5 p.m. London, February 20.

Sir Edward Grey states that the British have just become aware of a fresil German decree of the 6th February, ostensibly exempting imported grain and flour from the Government monopoly, apparently for the express purpose of embarrassing the proceedings against the Wilhelmina. The effect of this decree on the question of contraband can bast be investigated by the Prize Court. Germany publicly claims to treat all English fast coast towns as fortified places and bases for operations, thereby justifying the bombardment of Yarmouth, Scarborough, and Whitby; also the seizure of neutrals carrying contraband to the east coast. The Karlsruhe similarly sank the Dutch vessel Maria, carrying grain for Dublin and Belfast. Germany cannot have it. both ways. _ If such acts are justified, Britain a. fortiori is justified in similprlv treating Hamburg, whither the Wilhelmina was bound. He reiterates his assurance that the owners of the vessel and cargo will be indemnified. Regarding flags, lie points out that American passengers requested the Lusitnnia. when America bound, to hoist the American flag. The Government had not advised the company how to meet the request. Britain permits a foreigner to use the British flag in war time to avoid capture, and it is unreasonable to expect that Britain will forbid her merchantmen to use foreign flags. This would be especially unreasonable when Germany intends to piratically sink fit sight. American vessels used British flags during the Civil War, and it would be contrary to fair expectation if, when conditions were reversed. American neutrals were to grudge British ships similar facilities. The Government do*'S not intend to advise British merchantmen to use foreign flags as a general practice, or to resort thereto except to escape capture or destruction. If a belligerent fulfils the universally recognised obligation to examine a ship before capture, a fortiori before destroying the use of neutral flags bv British "will not endanger neutrals. .Britain holds that neutrals can onlv suffer because that obligation is disregarded. The sole responsibilitv rested with the enemy Government. Britain had not declared foodstuffs absolute contraband. In iceordanee with civilised principles civilians should not be treated similarly to combatants, but the novel German doctrines abolish the distinction.

Sir Edward Grey instances the troat'ment of civilians'in Belgium and the North of France, the indiscriminate mining of the North Sea, the killing of defenceless English men. women'and children by warships ai'rl airships and the recent torpedoing at sight. Britain cannot be exnected to be bound by rules which Gerfanv defiins. yii<» memorandum concludes. "If Britain declares food absolute contraband, or otherwise takes reprisals, the Government trusts that neutrals will not appeal on the ground of international usages, so Ion;;' as neutrals cannot compel Gerninnv to abandon illegal and inhuman methods.'' GERMANY'S BULLYING DECREE. AMERICAN" PRESS CRITICISM. London, February 19. Most of the British newspapers declare that they will be surprised if Germany's Note is received with satisfaction in America.

AYashington ailvicfs state that 110 newspapers liave anything good to say for tlu' Berlin decree and its aftermath, which is contradictory and bullying. It is also clear that the friendly and convincing reasonableness of the British Note compared with the brutal rutlilessness of the German attitude has created a favorable impression. The New York Times justifies Great Britain's action in declaring food contraband and warns Germany that she will he strictly accountable to 'Avneric.i for ships and lives. Thy Sun states that, briefly, the Xote means that Germany does not intend to he governed by the rules of civilised warfare. The Tribune asks what attention can civilised opinion pay to the plea of a belligerent with unclean hands and from a Government which outruns all others in making warfare ruthlessly inhuman. : *

Th e World says accountability is the first and last word of the Fnited States. London, February ]!). The Times, in a lender, says: "We sliall be surprised if tlie Ooriuan reply to America does not cause astonishment and emotion across the Atlantic, Tt gives 110 assurance that American vessels will not be molested: the only assurance given is that Ccrnu'.ny is immutably resolved to make war in her own fashion in contempt of all protests from Washington or elsewhere. Tlie rcpiv can hardily belli to restore Ih> sadly damaged reputation of Teutonic diplomacy." Washington, February 10. Representative llarthold is much criticised for a speech in flic House in which he declared that demand:: against Britain presented no alternative hut to submit or to drclar> war. The threat of an embargo on the exportation of arms, however, was the only tiling required to bring tile mistress of the seas to terms. (Probably the above Tte'irrsentative is identical with Mr Richard I'.arllioldt. i\ native of fiorinauv. and a member of Congress since I SO.V).

VIKWS 01" f! HUMAN* :AOMTRAL. London. February 1!). (Vrnian newspapers arc largely devoted to considering the tlio new i»iraf-y. Vice-Admiral Ki t-i oIV warns Hermans not to expect great ami immediate results. He points out that England is adopting <lTective measures for tile defence of Iter coast - and harbors and eagerlv searching Tor the possible hiding-places of Cerman submarines. Sin- lias o: t'Mitisrd a beUe>- liatro" service and is using many small craft, inning lueivhaniuicn and sending out submarines to take ob~rwa<'on-<. arsliips are convoying nicvhantmcn and all vesse's are linked un by xvirrde-'s. T.ierland is tlnis preoared to contemplate t'ic future witlt calm security, flermanv cannot inimediatelv exnr-ct imnossibilities. but niu-t wait patientlv for gradual success. Tier proel;\maf ion lias already eansei] L r aeral uneasiness. universal nni i rtainl v. bi'_di insurances, the desertion of crews, tlie abandonment of regular services, and tlie suspension of ' certain imports.