ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE BLOCKADE. • THE GRIP TIGHTEXIXG. AMERICA EXCITED. TLjncs and Sydney Sun Services, London, Jan. IS. The general expectation is that a tightening of the "blockade is imminent.

The Sunday Times says that the Navy hart a particularly trying time in the December gales. They brought hundreds of ships to port, and it was heart-break-ing to receive instructions to release thp.m. The great majority wove , iirrying supplies to neutrals, which Lord Lansdownc admits find their way to Germany.

The Weekly Dispatch says that the knowledge tWt the richer Germans are able to secure, unlimited supplies of rooit through neutrals will very shortly produce a more stringent blockade. The Times' correspondent at Washington says the newspapers are excitedly discussing the blockade, and intimate that the British grip on German trade is being strengthened. They point out that American lawyers think the proeedure legally indefensible, and suggest ttiat the same results would 1)e attainable by declaring a blockade of accessible German ports and preventing indirect neutral trade through extensions 01 the contraband list and the use of the doctrine of continuous voyage. New York, ,Tan. IS. The Evening Post says that Mr. Page (American Ambassador in Britain) lias informed President iWilson that more stringent rules are about to be applied to the blockade of Germany.