That Germany could enforce an effective blockade of the British Isles was not to be expected, but the Berlin Press hailed the Imperial Government’s declaration with delight. The Lokal-Anzeiger, a semi-official journal, exclaimed: “What do we care about the outcry of others and the indignation of our enemies? We Germans have a great lesson to learn from this war, namely, not to be fastidious and not to listen to others.” Both these lessons appear to have been thoroughly mastered. In the Kreuz-Zeitung, the official organ of the Conservative and Court parties, the following comment appeared: “It appears that we shall now torpedo ships without previous warning. For the first time we appear now to have decided on this relentless form of warfare. We welcome with satisfaction the fact that our submarines will wage the most ruthless and relentless war against all enemy shipping.”
As the term “blockade” is liable to misinterpretation, we cannot do better than quote the German definition of a blockade, as contained in the German Naval Prize Regulations, Section V., Articles 58, 59, and 60.
“The blockade must be confined to the ports and coasts belonging to or occupied by the enemy; the blockading forces must not bar access to neutral ports or coasts.
“A blockade, in order to be valid, must be effective, applied impartially, and declared and notified according to the rules concerned.
“A blockade is really effective when it is maintained by a force sufficient to prevent access to the enemy coast. The question whether a blockade is effective as to number and disposition of the blockading forces under the existing geographical conditions must in every case be examined by the Prize Court. Among other things, it will be denied if maritime traffic could be maintained between one of the blockaded ports and any port not blockaded.”
The absurdity of the German declaration becomes clear in the light of Germany’s own official description of an effective blockade. It is now over two years since she essayed to blockade the British Isles; but never during the whole of that period has she been able to provide a “force sufficient to prevent access to the enemy coast.” Moreover, during the same period maritime traffic has been “maintained between blockaded and unblockaded ports.” The whole affair quickly developed into a series of piratical raids by submarines against the sea-borne commerce of the world, carried out in a spirit of reckless brutality.
The German’s utter disregard even for the rules laid down by his own Admiralty horrified the world and destroyed the reputation and honour of the German Navy. This can scarcely be considered surprising, when we remember that the following are but a few examples of the German submariner’s methods.
On the 27th March, 1915, at about 5.30 p.m. the s.s. Aguila, when signalled to stop by a submarine, put on full speed to escape. She was, however, overhauled, the submarine approaching to within about 300 feet of her, and opening fire with shrapnel and solid shot. The chief engineer was killed, and the master, third engineer, and a fireman were wounded. At 6 p.m. the engines were stopped, and as way came off the ship, the boats were lowered; but the submarine continued to fire, killing the boatswain, donkeyman, stewardess, and a lady passenger, and wounding others. One of the boats capsized, which brought the total death-roll up to eight. The position was 33 miles from land. The submarine offered no assistance, and went away after sinking the ship.