Again the German smiled.
“Who knows?” he replied with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Do you mean to say that they were left to their fate?”
“What else could be done?” asked the prisoner. “The submarines could not provide for them.”
“But such action is against all the rules of civilized warfare,” exclaimed His Lordship.
“Perhaps so,” was the reply. “But as England has not hesitated to take whatever steps she considered necessary, neither will Germany, in the future.”
“But the vessels of neutral nations,” said Lord Hastings, “are they not in danger because of this blockade?”
“They are—yes,” was the reply, “and for this reason: Several British ships already have made their escape by hoisting the Red, White and Blue. However, Germany has defined a well established line of passage for neutral ships, and any found outside of these channels are subject to the same fate as ships of England and France.”
“But great Scott, man,” exclaimed Lord Hastings, “the sinking of an American ship would more than likely bring the United States into the war against Germany. Surely, you do not desire that.”
The German shrugged his shoulders.