Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CARGO OF WILHELMINA WILL M HELD TO A PRIZE COURT SIR EDWARD GREY, FOREIGN SECRETARY, ANNOUNCES DECISION OF ENGLAND MAY DECLARE ALL FOOD CONTRABAND E? ilish Government Cites Ger many's Order Confiscating al! Grain and Flour in Empire I LONDON, Kell. I?.?Sil Edward | (hay. Hi" foreign Itecrctary, announc ed today Iliai the Ilrltlsh government had deckled that the American Btearn er WilhelmIiiu'h rood cargo should he held for a prize court. This declaration appears to make clear Great Britain's purpose to de clare all footlrluffs for Germany con traband as well as to foreshadow oili er reprisals. The foreign minister, after reviewing the German methods of wan-fare and denouncing them as violations of all international usages, says: "If, therefore, his majesty's govern ment Should hereafter feel constrain ed to declare foodstulfs absolute con traband or to lake other measures for Interfering with German trade by way of reprisal 1. they confidently ex pect that such action will not be challenged on the part of neutral States by appeals to laws and usages of war whose validity rests on thoir I forming an integral part of that sys- I 1cm of International doctrine, which, as a whole, their enemy frankly boasts the intention to disregard, so long as such neutral states cannot compel the German -government to ' ulmndon methods or warfare which have not In recent history been regarded as having the sanction or either law or humanity." . Great Irflluln's reply to the Amerl cuti note on the Wllhelminu case, handed today tr. Walter Dines I'ago. the American ambassador, reads: "The communication made by the United Slntca ambassador In hla note to Sir Edward Grey, of the 16th In stant, has beeil carefully considered und the following observations ure offered in reply: "At Die time when llL Majesty's government gnvo directions for the seizure of the cargo of the steamship Wlllio'mina as contraband they had bofore them tile text of a decree made by the German federal council on the 2Bth of January under article 45 of which all grain und flour Imported into Germany after thu 31st of January wan declared deliverable only to cer tain organizations under direct gov ernment control or to municipal authorities. The vessel was bound for Hamburg, ono of the free cities or the Goimnn empire, the government of which is vested in tile municipality. This was ono of tho reasons actuating Hin Majesty's government In deciding to bring tho cargo of the Wilchlmina beforo a prize court. "In formation has only now reached them that by a subs?quent tlecrco dated the oixth of February tho above provision In article 45 of the previous decree waa ropoalcd. It would appear for tho express pyrposo of render ing difficult the anticipated proceed ings against the Wllhelmlna. The rr peal wan not known to His Majesty's government at the time or the deten tion of the cargo, nr Indeed until how. How far tho ostcnRlblo exception of imported supplie.* from the general government monopoly of nil grain and flour set up by tho German govern ment may affect Aho question of (he contraband nature of tho nhlpmcnts seized, is a matter which will most suitably be Investigated by tho prize court. "It is. however, necessary to state that the Gorman deeroe is not the only ground on which the submission of the cargo of tho Wilholmina to the prize court is justified. Tho Gorman government have in public announce ments claimed to treat practically every town or port on tho English cast coast as a fortified place and base of operations. On tho strength of thin contention they have subjected to bombardment the open towns of Yarmouth. Scarborough and Whllhy. among others. On the same ground of neutral vessels sailing for English ports on the east coast, with cargoes of goods on the German list of con ditlonal. contraband, have been seized by German' cruisers and brought be foro a German prize court.. "Again the Dutch vessel Maria, hav ing sailed from California with a car go 'of.grain consigned to Dublin and Belfast, was sunk in September last by the German - cruiser Karlsruhe. This could only bave been Justified If,' among other things, the cargo could have been proved to bo destined for the British government or for armed forces and If a presumption to this ef fect had been established owing to Dublin or Belfast being considered fortified places or bases for armed forces. '"The German government cannot have it both ways. If they consider themselves justified In destroying by bombardment the lives and property of peaceful civil Inhabitants of Eng lish open towns and watering. places and In seizing and sinking ships and cargoes of conditional contraband on their way thither, on the ground that they aro.consigned to a fortified plpce or base, a fortiori H1b Majesty's gov ernment ,jmust- be at liberty to treat Hamburg which is in part protected by fortifications at tho mouth of the ' Elbe, as a fortified town and base of operations, and supply for the pur poses of arltele 34 of the Declara tion of London. . j./.'Tf the owners, of the cargo of the V/llhelniina desire to question the val idity in International law of the ac tion taken by' order of His Majesty's government they will have every op portunity of establishing their Case dye course fcefers th? prise court, mid His Majesty's government would in this connection recall the alten tioii or the roiled States to the con siderations put forward in Sir Ed ward Grey's note to Mr. i'ugc of the 10th inr.tfiiit, as to the proper!v of awaiting the result of the prize court proceeding:; before diplomatic action! is initiated. H will be remembered that they have from the outset given delinile itSHiirauccH that the owners of the Wilhclinina as well as (lie owners ol her cargo. B found to be contra band, would b<> equitably indemnified. "There is oue further observation j to which Ills Majesty's guvi riimciil | thinks it right and appropriate in the j prcAciii connection In give expression. They have not so lur declared food stuffs to be absolute c ontraband; they I have not Inlerferred with any neutral vessels on account of their carrying foodstuffs, except on !>u:ils of such | foodstuhs being liable to capture if tienlilied for enemy forces -of govern-j incnts. In so acting they have been j guided by the general principle of lale universally upheld by civilized nations ! and observed In practice that the civil j populations of countries at war are not to be exposed to treatment right ly reserved ror combatants. This distinction bus to ail intents and pur poses been swept away by the n-JVel doctrines proclaimed and acted upon by the German government. "It Is unneceshury here to dweil on the treatment that lia? been nicteil out to the civil population of Belgium and to those parts of France which ure in German occupation. When Germany, long before any mines had been laid by the British auth >riti< s. proceeded to sow mines upon the high seas and by this means sunk a considerable number not only of British, but also neutral merchantmen with their un offending crews, it was, so His Mu Jesty'h government held, open to them to lake retaliatory measures e ven If such measures were of a kind to in volve pressure on the civil population, not, indeed, of neutral States but of their enemies. They refrained fron, doing so. When subsequently Eng lish towns and defenceless British subjects. Including women and chil dren, were deliberately and systometi cally fired upon and killed by ships flying the flag of the imperial German navy; when quiet country towns and villages, void uf defenses and posses sing no military* or naval importance, were bombarded by Germun airships, His Majesty's government still ab stained from drawing the logical consequences from this form of at tack on defenseless citizens. "Further stops in the suiuc direction are now announced and in fact al ready have been taken by Germany. British merchant vessels have been torpedoed at sight without any at tempt being made to give warning to tho crew or any opportunity being given to save their lives. A torpedo has been fired against a British hospital ship in daylight, and similar treatment is threatened to all British merchant vcsrcls In tho future as well as to any neutral ships that may hap Itpcu to be found in the neighborhood ! of the British Isios. "Faced with this situation. His Ma jesty'^ government considers It would be altogether unreasonable that Great British and her allies should be ex pected to remain indefinitely bound to their gravo detriment, by rules and principles of which they recognize tho Justice ir Impartially obBorved an be tween belligerents, but which are at the present moment openly set at de fiance by their enemy. "If. therefore. HIb Majesty'n govern ment should hereafter feel constrain <.d to doelaro foodstuffs absolute con traband or take other measures for In terfering Avllh German trade by war of reprisals', they confidently expect that such action will not be challenged on the part of neutral Slates by appeals to laws and usages or war whose validity rests on their forming an In tegral part of that system of interna tional doctrine which, jib a whole, their enemy frankly boasta the lib erty and Intention to disregard, so long as such neutral State cannot compel the Gorman government to abandon methods of warfare which hnvo not In recent history been re garded as having the sanction of either law or humanity." Becked Snfely at Rotterdam. ROTTERDAM, via London. Feb. 13 ?(4::tf? p. m.?The steamer t'gunda, from Norfolk. Va., first of the Belgian relief commission's yesnels to arrive hero since Gorma^ny'a wnr zone decree became effective, docked at Rotterdam early today. The captains of all Bel gian relief ships putting into Fal mouth have bocn advised to paint the name of the commission on the side of their vessel. WORMS Horse, hog and cattle own ers should know that worms cause by a poor digestive system or improper feeding are more than dangerous. DR. BOYD'S Worn and Condition Powder is a remedy prepared by a practi cal veterinary surgeon and re lieves the condition almost in stantly. It should be used with regularity. 25 cents buys a largo package We guarantee it to do the work or will refund purchase price. For Sale by I F. B. Crayton, Anderson, S. C, Germait War Zone Established About the British Isles. The shaded portion of this map shows the waters about the British Isles und In the English Channel and the North Sou In which. If the Ger mun declaratious are to be taken at their fucc value, it will be dangerous for any American merchant ship, un convoyed by American battleships, or ho morchant ships of any other neutral nation, to Bail. t ount uernstorn*. German ambas sador to the United States, has stat ed that since British merchant ships have boon directed to carry guns and to attack German submarines, even when the officers of the submarines are boarding them to learn their identity there will he no time for In vestigation at sea. Therefore, a ship with an American flag may be at tacked. He says: ". . . The safety of neutral ship ping In the war zone,around the Brit ish Isles is seriously threatened. There is also an increased danger re sulting from mines,"as" these will be laid in the war zone'to a great ex tent. Accordingly neutral ships are most urgently warned against enter ing that area, while tho course around Scotland will be safe. "Germany har. been compelled to re sort to this kind of warfare by the murderous ways of British naval war fare, which aims at the destruction of legitimate neutral trade and at the starvation of the German people. Germany will be obliged to adhere to the announced principles until Eng land submits to'the recognized rules of warfare, established by the Dec laration of Paris and London. or until she it compelled to do so by the neutral powers. Raised American Flag to Save Lives of Passengers GREAT BRITAIN WILL NOT RESORT TO USE OF NEU TRAL FLAGS GENER ALLY SHOULD HAVE THIS PRIVILEGE American Passengers Aboard Lus itania Asked That Stars and Stripes be Hoisted LONDON. Feb. 19.?The British foreign office this evening issued a note in reply to tho representation of tho United States government con cerning the use of the American flag by British vessels. Tho noto says that the Cunard Line itoumef Lualtania on her recent voy age from Now York to Liverpool raid ed the Amorlcan flag "to savo the Hvob of non-combatants, crow and passengers." It ndda that In spite of tho fact that American passengers em barking on tho Lusitanla on her out ward vovage for Now York asked that '-he American flag be hoisted, "the British government did not give any advices to the" company as to how to meet this request, and, It is under stood, the Lusitanla left Liverpool un der the British flag." After dlscusBlng the Lusitanla in cident the memorandum says: "The British government has no Intention of adulslng merchant ship ping to use foreign flags as a general practice or to resort to them other wise than for escaping c&piure or de struction." In conclusion the statement says: "The obligation on a belligerent warship to ascertain definitely for it self the nationality and character of a merchant vessel before capturing it and a fortiori (stronger reason) be fore sic.'tag and destroying It has been universally recognized. If that obllga tion is fulfilled the hoisting of a neu tral flag on board a British voas?l cannot possibly endanger neutral ahip ping, and the British government holds that If Joss to neutrals Is caused by disregarding this obligation It is upon the enemy vessel disregarding this obligation and upon the government that it should be disregarded that the full responsibility for injury to neu trals ought to rest" The following Is the text of the re ply of Great Britain to the American note as banded to Waiter nines Page, the American, ambassador, today: "The- memorandum communicated on the 11th of February calls atten tion In courteous and friendly terms to the action of the captain of the Brit ish steamship Lusitanla In raising the flag of the United States of America when approaching British waters and says te government ot the United States'reels certain anxiety in con sidering the possibility of any general use of the nag or the United States by British vessels traversing those waters since the effect Gf such a policy might be to bring about a menace to the lives and vessels of United States citizens. "?t was understood that the German government announced their intention of sinking British merchant vessels at sight bv torpedoes without giving *any opportunity of making any provision for the saving of lives of non-com batant crows and passengers. It was In consequoncc of this threat thut the Lusitanla raised the United States flag on her inward voyage. ' "On her subs?quent outward voyage a request was mado by United States par-sengers who were, embarking on board her that the United States flag should he bol.-tcd presumably to en sure their safety. Meanwhile the memorandum from your excellency had been received. His Majesty's gov ernment did not give, any advice to the company ns to how to meet this request, and it understood that the Lusitanla left Liverpool under 'tho British flag. ~ "It seems unnecessary to say more as regards the Lusitanla in particular. "In. regard to the ? use of foreign flags by merchant vessels, the British merchant shipping act makes It clear that the use of the British flag by foreign merchant Vessels is permitted in time of war for the purpose of escaping capture. It is believed that In the case of some other nations there is similar recognition of; the same practice with regard,to their flag, and that none has forbidden it. "It would, therefore, be unreason able to expert His Majesty'h govern ment to pass legislation forbidding the use of foreign flags by British merchant vessels to avoid capture by the enemy, now that the German sov ernment have announced their inten tion to sink merchant vessels at sight with their noncorobataot crews, car goes and papers, a proceeding hith erto regarded by the. opinion of the world not as war, but piracy. It is reit that the United S?tes government could not fairly ask tho British gov ernment to o>der British merchant vessels to forego a means always tilth er to permitted o escaping not only cap ture, but tfcs much worse fate of sink Ing and destruction. - - "Great Britain always, when a neu tral, has accorded to vessels of other States "at war the liberty to uee tho British flsg as a means of protection from capture and instance* are on record when United- States vessels availed themselvea of'this facility dur. Ing the American Civil War. It would be contrary to fair expectation if now when conditions "are reversed, the United States and neutral nations were to grudge to British ships the liberty to take similar ..action. "The British government has no In tention of advising their merchant shipping to. use foreign .flags as a gen eral practice or to resort to them oth erwise than for escaping capture or been universally recognized. If that obligation is fulfilled, the hoisting of a neutral flag on board a British ves sel cannot possibly endanger neutral shipping and the British government holds that If loss to neutrals is caused by disregard of this obligation it Is up. on the enemy vessels disregarding it and upon the government giving the blood vessels and tissue, the' state ment adds, it was possible to save limbs which otherwise would inevl tably have been lost. GERMAN SUBMARINES TORPEDO TWO SHIPS Germany signalised the second day of the operation of lier sea war xone by torpedoing two steamships, ope owned in a neutral country?Norway. This vessel* the tank steamer Bel ridge, was torpedoed by a submarine near Folkestone, England, while Ike French steamer IDInorah was badly damaged by a similar vessel. oK Dieppe, France. Both vessels made port. A Dieppe dlspstch asserts that no warning of an attack was given tbe iHnorah. There has been no mention of cssusltles on either vessel. destruction. The obligation upon belligerent warship to ascertalu de (*!nitely for Itself the nationality and cl.aracter of a merchant vessel he re re capturing It and fortrlorl be LONDON. Feb. 19.?(10:30 p. m.)? The British replies to the American notes on the use or the American flag by the Cunard Line steamer Lusitanla and the-decision to hold the cargo or tho American steamer Wilhelmina to a prize court were delivered'to Ameri can Ambassador Page today. Fighting in the west has consisted largely of efforts by the Germans to recover trenches lost during the Al lies' offensive maneuvers last Tuesday and Wednesday. The Germans claim that their attacks were successful The German army which drove the Russians out of East Prussia has oc cupied the Russian town ot Tau'rog gen on the East Prussian frontier, north or the Ni?men River, but else where in this regten the Germans ap parentiy have been halted by the ar rival ot Prussian reinforcements, as for three days now the official re ports have referred to the fighting as takiDsr place In tho Augustowo district and in the vicinity or Plock and Sler pec. on the right bank of the lower Vistula. s : : . In the Carpathians neither side has made much progress, .although | j the Russians announced that they ' have repulsed numerous Austro-German attacks. r ? V, Military men are of the opinion that the Austro-Oe-J^ans did -ot enough men in the Carpathians'when they sent the reinforcements which assisted in driving the Russians but of Bukowina and that if they are de feated in the mountain passes they may find themselves In a difficult posi tion. r? The Russians apparently made en orderly retreat through Bukowina, al though severely harrasSed .th the Bnow-covered mountain passes. A Vienna report received through Rome says reinforcements have reach ed the Russians and that a big battle Is expected between Nadworns and KoRotnea. In addition to the two Gorman air ships wrecked Off the Danish coast Wednesday and Thursday... It was) reported today that another Iusb * fore sinking ^and ife^ffi^*'J^ig? I *0<>n J" distress np""* Ob-rliVtlnnsaad STOMACH TROUBLE FOR FIVE YEARS Majority of Friends Thought Mr. Haghes Would Die, Bat Ose Helped Him to Recovery. Pomeroyton, Ky.~In Jnteresting ad vices from this place, Mr. A. J. Hughes writes as follows: "I was down with stomach trouble for five (5) years, and would have sick headache so bad, at times, that I thought surely I would die. I tried different treatments, but they did not seem to do me any good. I got so bad, I could not eat or sleep, and all my friends, except one, thought I would die. He advised me to try Thedford's Black-Draught, and quit taking other" medicines. I decided to take his advice, although I did not have any confidence In it. I have now been taking Brack-Draught for three months, and it has cured me? haven't had those awful sick headaches since I began using it. 1 am so thankful for what Black Draught has done for me." Thedford's Black-Draught has been found a very valuable medicine for de rangements of the stomach and liver. It is composed of pure, vegetable herbs, contains no dangerous ingredients, and acts gently, yet surely. It can be freely used by young and old, and should be kept in every family chest Get a package today, j Only a quarter. j-cs REGARD DEVELOPMENTS OF GRAVE IMPORTANCE President and Cabinet Discuss Dangers to American Vessels and Commerce?Members Decline to Predict What Would be Course of the United States WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.?President Wilson nnd his cabinet discussed ut length today dangers to American vessels and commerce growing out of the reiterated determination of the German government to wage a sub marine and mine warfare on enemy vessels t>nd disclaiming responsibility for what may happen to neutral ves sels venturing into the new sea war zones. Canvass of cabinet officers later dis closed tbat the adm'rtlntration record ed the developments of the last few days as of grave importance. Caulnet members declined to predict what would be the course of the Unit ed States. Some pointed out that in every serious situation ir internation al affairs much dlscreMor was vested In the president and that this action necessarily would be guided by tho circumstances of each ca"'*. if there were attacks on American .cssels. Offlrdally, the United States govern ment had not received late tonight the text of >be German reply to tho American note, and until it is In hand no decision will be announced as to the administration's policy. In the Informal discussion of the reply as published iu the press, cabi net members indicated tbat they wero impressed by different aspects of the case. Some held that while the situa tion was serious, there was-an indi cation in Uie German note of a will ingness to discuss the subject further, whlcb might, perheps, postpone the active enforcement of the proclama tion to permit an understanding to be reached about tho safety of neutral vessels. The fact that Germany had ordered her navy to uso discretion and care when epproaching ohlps flying neutral flags was viewed as indicating that the maximum of vigilance probably would be exercised by commanders of STRIKE,1' MINE; BAD*, i DAMAGED submarines to distinguish between enemy and- neutral vessels. On the other hand, however, the note's dec laration that Germany disclaimed all responsibility for what might happen to neutral ships either-by submarine torpedoes or mines produced appre hension that a critical point might be precipitated in the relations between the United States and Germany. Opinions varied as to what steps would be taken by the United State \ when the text of tho German reply la officially received. Some of the Scandinavian countries in their representations to Germany, It is understood, have used the phrase "accountability" In the sense of de manding compensation for losses sus tained. Holland's protest 1b believed to have conveyed this moaning,as well' as a warning of possible action. The fact that the United States did not de fine Its future course Is regarded in somo official quarters as making un necessary any further explanation of the American attitude unless some overt act occurs. The position of tho United States in its communication to Germany was amplified to some extent today by the administration officials, who insisted that the use of submarines which Ger many claimed mado it unsafe at times to approach a merchantman for fear of retaliatory fire, waa not an excuse, in their opinion, for summary attack on a ship fllying neutral flag. As for tho possible destruction of vessels by mines strewn indiscrimi nately, officials were inclined to admit the helplessness of neutral vessels venturing in the war zones. If mines are laid, some notification to this ef fect for .shippers is expected to be received from Germany. Both Secretaries Garrison and Dan iels denied published reports today of unusual acivity by tho army and navy In connection with the present sltua i Hon. NOT ONE BAG OF U .S. MAIL LOST Norwegian Steamer Which Sailed From Newport New? Feb. 5 | , . Beached Near Dover DOVER, Feb. 19 (via London, 3:08 p. m.).?The Norwegian tank steam chip .Bolrldge, which sailed from New Orleans January 28 and Newport News February 6 for Amsterdam, struck a mine early today of Dover. She was beached near here. It was first reported abe was only slightly damaged by the explosion, but later it was learned there had been fear of he?. going down. Her fors peak and her 'torehold ers filled with water and. her fore deck Is awash. The Pilot on board and 18 men of her cren have been landed. LONDON, Feb. 19 (11:50 p. m.).~ An official statement "Issued by the admiralty tonight says the Norwegian tank steamship Bel ridge was struck by a torpedo fired by a German sub marine today near. Folkestone. Pl?bes of the torpedo; it Is asserted, have been found on the ship. No American Mail Has Gone Down With Vessel Destroyed . by Warship in 100 Years. WASHINGTON. Feb. 19.?Although United States mail 18 going directly or indirectly to every country In Die world, so far not one bag has been lost through the activities of Euro pean war eets. In fact, postoffice department officials said today, no American mall has gone down with a .merchantman destroyed by a warship within the past hundred years. . rcstmsater General Burleson said he expected no interference with mall service to result from Gcrmanv's se* war zone proclamation. It was point ed out that mall steamers are fast vessels, carrying passengers and lit tle cargo of the kind belligerents would like to destroy. H. M. Garrison of tho Sandy Springs section was a visitor in the city yes terday. Wisdom Demands a Bank Account A bank account teaches, helps, and encourages you to save $o as to increase your balance. - , it also gives you, the convenience}. of paying bills by check? the simplest and best method as well as the safest, as your checks be comes the receipt for the debt it pays. We ot??r you absolute security and the most convenient system of handling ?your me-ney/ > . V iff^?^f We pay interest on deposits. ^r.i^;{^. The Farmers and Merchants Bank from and The Farmer? Loan & Trust Co. 5S 7