Valdez Daily Prospector
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1915.
UNSETTLED QUESTIONS OF IN
TERNATIONAL LAW.
Prof. John B. Moore, in his paper
on “Problems of War and Commerce,'’
read at the Foreign Trade Conven
tion in St. Louis, brought out forcibly
some of the uncertainties in the laws
of war which the present European
conflict has disclosed. These relate
chiefly to contraband, the use of
floating mines, etc. Professor Moore
believes that the differences between
our government and the English, in
the matter of contraband of war and
the right of search, will be amicably
settled, but he thinks that this will
be only a “makshift.” That is to say,
the two countries will agree on the
procedure to be followed, but this will
not settle the international law of
the case. A thorough-going revision
and codification of the whole subject
of contraband will be necessary, in
Professor Moore’s opinion, after the
■war is over. If unsettled questions
have no pity for the repose of na
tions, in their internal affairs, it is
equally true that undetermined points
of international law may any day
threaten the good relations between
countries.
An instance of this last is just now
brought to public attention in the
controversies over the ship Dacia.
The only reason that there is any
controversy at all is that the law of
the case has never been definitely
settled. The books show no authori
tative decision in a dispute of pre
cisely this kind. There are implica
tions, looking one way or the other,
and there are obiter dictum; but no
prize court has, so far as we can as
certain, ever ruled on the nationality
of a ship in exactly the conditions
of the Dacia. Needless to say, there
are no prescriptions of international
law clearly covering the case. The
law is general. It simply lays down
the rule that the nationality of a ship
is to be recognized at sea, but does
not s y in detail how that nationality
is, in every conceivable instance, to1
be decided. It is not solely a ques-!
tion of the flag and the ship’s papers, i
American authorities are explicit on
the right of “an inquiring na*ion” to:
go behind the flag and the papers, j
It can appeal to “the actual facts” |
upon which, in the case of a sus-;
pected ship, her “national character
depends,” But this simply means
ihat the facts, and the due legal in
terpretation thereof, must be laid be-j
fore a court. This is apparently what
the British government would do with i
the Dacia.
The motive is plain. The Dacia her
self is of little account. She is a
small and cheap boat. But she was
German-owned when the war broke
out, and then was bought by Ameri
cans, who now propose to sail her
under the flag of the United States.
If England should acquiesce in this
procedure, she would be establishing
a precedent which might be invoked
to cover the sale and transfer to
American registry of the vastly more
important German steamships intern
ed here since the outbreak of the
war. The quiet and conciliatory note
of the British ambassador simply
states the fact that the validity o'th'e
Dacia’s registry is open to legal ques
tion, “in the circumstances.”
It might be thought that our gov
ernment had no direct concern in
the matter, except the general obli
gation *o see that American prop
erty at sea enjoys its rights. The
venture seems to be wholly private.
The Dacia Is owned by individuals,
Und her cargo is to be merely cotton.
Where does the government come In ?
It comes in through the transfer of
the Dacia to American registry. That
was a governmental act. It was done,
of course, under warrant of law. Our
navigation laws were so changed that
ships, if owned in good faith by
Americans, could be sailed under our
flag even if they were foreign-built.
It was under this provision that , the
Dacia was transferred. This would
have been perfectly regular and un
questionably lawful had it not been
that the question of the war came in.
International public law in time of
war differs from the same law dur
ing peace. And It Is at least a moot
point whether ships of a belligerent
can be sold to a neutral, and sailed
under a neutral flag, while war is
raging,
Such a transfer would have been
made illegal by the Declaration of
London, but that, unfortunately, was
not ratified, and is not binding. Its
provisions on the subject may, how
ever, be properly cited as evidence
■of what was in the minds of the
delegates at London, as the proper
course to pursue. Their article was
not so sweeping as it is sometimes
represented. It declared the trans
fer of an enemy vessel to a neutral
flag, effected after hostilities have
begun, as “void, unless it is proved
that such transfer was not made in
order to evade the consequences which
the enemy character of the vessel
would involve.” That might be hard
to prove, but at least the door was
left open to the proof. So it would
be, undoubtedly, in a prize court. If
the Dacia is taken to one, all the
questions of fact and of law can free
ly be argued. And the whole world
would be interested in the decision.
Our own country would be most in
terested, next after England and Ger
many, since the decision would have
a direct bearing upon the government
ship purchase bill. It would also af
fect a diplomatic question now pend
ing before our State Department.
There was another German ship, the
Alexandria, transferred to the Ameri
can flag after the war began. She
was re-christened the Sacramento,
and sailed from San Francisco with
coal and supplies that are said to
have turned up in the possession of
Admiral von Spee, off Chili. Protest
was made by the British, and our
government is looking into the mat
ter. That case, like the Dacia, shows
the danger of proceeding in so deli
cate a matter for neutrals, without
a clear warrant in international law.
—New York Post.
WATTERSON ON WAR.
What else is the dropping of a bomb
into the heart of a city but murder?
If the American emmbassy had been
destroyed and the Hon. Myron T.
Herrick, the American ambassador,
killed, why might not the govern
ment of the United States—with as
good reason as the kaiser’s imperial
government had to authorize the
throwing of the bombs in Pari6—have
the right to take Count von Bernstoff,
the German ambassador, to the top of
the Washington monument or the
dome of the capitol and fling him
headlong to the earth? The murder
would not be more heinous in the
one case than in the other.
It is murder pure and simple; in
its authors cold-blooded and calculat
ed; in its victims cruel and \ wan
ton ; such only as we read of in tales
of Iroquois, the Senecas, and the Wy
andottes. The ghosts of the braves
look on from their happing hunting
grounds amazed.
We have called it the war of the
kaisers. Eut it is not war. It is
the dances of death after the banquet
of murder. Satan only sits in the
saddle. For once he has extinguish
ed the light of heaven and establish
ed the rule of hell on earth. Let us
call it the devil’s own.—Louisville
Courier-Journal.
John Johnson and Frank Whitman,
in the employ of Jas. Wilson, the
local freighter, left today with four
horses for the glacier with supplies
for the Rutherford-Ramsay Mining
company.
Notice To Pioneers.
There will be a meeting of Igloo
No. 7, Pioneers of Alaska, tonight,
but the members are requested to
meet at their hall tomorrow, February
4, at 12:30 to attend in a body the
funeral services of the late Brother
William H. Blackwell, which will be
held at Eagle hall.
E. G. AMES, Secretary.
Notice To Eagles.
All Eagles are requested to meet
at Eagle hall tomorrow (Thursday)
at 12:30 prompt to attend the funeral
of our late brother, W. H. Blackwell, j
Services at 1 o’clock. All friends are
invited to attend.
W. T. SCOTT, W. P.
C. J. TODD, Secretary.
Notice.
The office of the Valdez Electric
company will be closed tomorrow dur
ing the funeral services over the
remains of our late respected secre
tary, William H. Blackwell.
VALDEZ ELECTRIC COMPANY.
Weather Report.
Valdez, Feb. 2, 1915.
Barometric pressure .29,017
Temperature it 7 p. m. 33
Maximum temperature . 37
Minimum temperature . 16
Mean temperature .261-2
Cloudy, gentle wind northeast 16
miles.
Subscribe for the Weekly Miner.
WOMEN KNOW HOW
10 DIEJHAVELY
BERLIN.—A German officer in
valided to his home in Berlin says
courage is a common thing in the
•lumar race, and greatly to his sur
prise he found that even civilians
were not afraid to die. The officer
was with the command of von Kluck in
the invasion of Belgium and witness
ed many executions by Germans of
persons, both men and women, who
bed been accused of spying or sniping
at the invaders. The German offi
cer states that it was surprising how
the Belgian women and even young
girls would look their executioners
in the face and hold their heads high
as though the" end of all things had
no terror for them. Their faces
might be pale and their limbs trem
ble, but they all died with their heads
up.
Since the beginning of the war thou
sands of men and women have been
shot as spies. Many of them were
undoubtedly innocent but in war
fare there is no time to make in
vestigations even if the courts mar
tial were so inclined. Sniping at an
invading army, especially a German
army, brings disastrous consequences
to the inocent as well as the guilty.
The Germans have taken a terrible
toll from the eBlgians and French
civilians for their patriotism. The
civilian who attempts to retaliate and
deal blow for blow is sure to meet
death before a firing squad. The non
combatant who discharges a rifle at
an aviator who is dropping bombs up
on his home is made to pay tjie
death penalty when the fortunes of
war brings him within the grasp of
the enemy.
That the Germans have executed
many innocent Belgians on the charge
of spying is, perhaps, not to be great
ly wondered at. They are making
war in a foreign country where the
populace has every opportunity to
observe the movements of the troops
and convey information to their own
countrymen. The German generals i
believe that in an enemy’s country
it is unwise to take chances. Better
that an innocent civilian should die
as a spy than that the army should
be imperiled through its movements
being revealed to the enemy.
Women show no more fear of death
than the bravest men when they face
a tiring squad. A young French girl!
was recently executed by the Ger
mans because she was believed to
have misinformed German officers.
The officers, upon entering the town,
had asked the girl if there were any
French soldiers in the place. She
told them that she had not seen any.
In a few minutes the Germans were
fired upon from ambush but after
a desperate struggle succeeded in
driving the handful of French sol
diers from the village. After the
engagement the German officer caus
ed the girl to be arrested and brought
before hint. He told her that she'
had lied, to him and that she was to
be shot. The girl declared that she1
had only arrived in town a few mo
ments before the Germans made their
appearance and that she did not
know there were any French soldiers
in the town. She did not beg for
mercy but faced death with a smile
upon her face. Many of the German
officers believed the girl was inno
cent but the commanding officer was
in a rage and declared that examples
were necessary to impress upon the
people the folly of giving false in
formation.
Courage is not confined to any race
or sex but is quite a common quality.
As the German officer said, “the
most commonplace of men die quite
well.”
LOCAL BREVITIES.
Joe Barertt has returned to town
from the Big Four property on Min
eral creek. He has been working
on the property for several months
and reports a fine body of ore in
sight.
John Grosh left for Slate creek
yesterday. He will remain in the
interior all summer.
Pete Ross has gone to Wortman’s,
where he will be employed with the
Alaska road commission.
Bill Schraeder and Bob Schraeder
have gone to Slate creek to begin
preparations for next summer’s min
ing operations.
Julius Jungholm has returned to
town from Mineral creek, wnere he
has just finished a contract of run
ning a tunnel.
The report of the Fairbanks health
officer shows that there were 34
births In 1914 as against 30 deaths.
In the preceding year there were 34
births against 51 deaths.
DESIGNED BY
MAYER BRO%
CHICAGO
Does Your Boy Need
a New Suit?
If he does come in and select one
for him from our large stock.
We have Boys’ Suits in all sises
and our prices are right.
We Carry the
Famous Tess and Ted Children’s School Shoes
Children’s Rubbers and Arctics.
Boys’ Packs and Boots
Jersey Sweaters and Sweater Coats.
Taking No Chances.
I
“I suppose you nre busy having your
wedding clothes made?’'
•‘Oh. no! If 1 had them made now
they’d probably be out of style.”—Chi
cago Itecord-IIernUl.
In the Summer Time.
Parson—Do you know the parnbles,
my child?
Johnnie—Yes, sir.
Parson—And which of the parables
do you like best?
Johnnie—I like the one where some
body loafs and fishes.—Philadelphia
Record.
It is reported in eastern papers that
the Bonanza mine has opened anoth
er big body of ore which gives re
turns of 70 per cent, copper. The
mine has declared $6,000,000 in divi
dend
TIDE TABLES PORT OF VALDEZ.
Compiled from the official tide L •
bles issued by the Coast and Geodet
ic Survey. The time for high and
low water is for the Port of'Valdez
and is Valdez time. Immediately fol
lowing the time of high and low wa
ter is given the height of the tide
in feet and tenths:
Wednesday, February 3
High tide 2:18 a. m„ 11.7: 2:01 p.
m„ 11.9.
Low tide 8:11 a. m., 1.0; 8:29 p.
m., 0.3.
Thursday, February 4
High tide 2:52 a. m., 12.0; 2:58 p.
m., 11.1.
Low tide 8:69 a. m„ 0.8; 9:03 p.
m., 0.4.
Friday, February 5
High tide 3:28 a. m., 12.2; 3:50 p.
m., 10.1.
Low tide 9:53 a. m., 0.7; 9:40 p.
tm„ 1.2.
8aturday, February 6.
High tide 4:10 a. m., 12.3; 4:65 p.
m., 9.1.
Copper River Lumber Co., Inc.
ALL KINDS OP
Native and f | Tynrn and Building
Puget Sound LiUlVlDJIilx Material
CONSTANTLY ON HAND
Prices Right W. M. FINICAL, Mgr. Phone 18
Patronize a Home Industry
Independent Laundry Co.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Telephone 66
Foot Keystone Ave
Uoutrh Dry 10c lb.
sas
ALASKA
STEAMSHIP CO.
S. S. Mariposa and S. S. Alameda sail from Seattle
the 1st, 8th, 16th and 24th
EVERY MONTH
From Valdez south -7th, 15th, 23rd and 30th for Cordova,
Juneau, Ketchikan and Seattle.
Regular freight service for Ketchikan, Juneau. Sheep creek Treadwell. Douglas
Cordova, Kllamar. Valdez and Latouche. Explosives, S S Seward. S S Seward. 5th'
S S Latouche. 15th: S S Cordova. 2.">th of each month—Right reserved to change this
schedule without notice.
F B. Tracy, Gen’l Agt- Valdez Dock Co., Local Agt.
U I
I •OTTuannao^Q I
FULL
QUART
IITil Mifilira 1B
' ■BOTTLED IN BOND—' ' ■
Has Had no Peers for Fifty Years
,sSOLD BY ALL DEALERS
WEATHER BULLETIN.
Valdez, Alaska, Feb. 3, 1915.
STATION Above Below. Snow In. WEATHER CONDITIONS
Donnelly .30 ‘ 4 High S. W. wind, cloudy, fair trail.
Paxson’s . 20 17 Calm, cloudy, fair trail.
Hogan . 2 17 Calm, cl<^idy, fair trail.
Gulkann . 10 14 Clear, calm, good trail. Y
Copper Center _ 8 10 Clear, calm, good trail.
Tonslna . 6 24 Partly cloudy, calm, good trail.
Teikhell . 5 25 Clear, calm, good trail.
Beaver Dam . 10 39 Clear, calm, good trail.
Summit . 29 50 Cloudy, calm, good trail.
Wortman’s . 29 42 Snowing, calm, good trail.