19 February: Difference between revisions

*[[Bombardment]] of forts at entrance to [[Dardanelles]] by five British and three French battleships and battle-cruisers (see [[18 March]]).

*Memoranda published by British Government in reply to [[USA]] Notes about the neutral flag<ref group="note">It is urged that the British Merchant Shipping Act allows the use of the British flag by ships of other nations for the purpose of evading capture, and no nation has forbidden such use of its flag. It is added, however, that the British Government has no intention of advertising British merchant shipping to use foreign flags as a general practice or to resort to them except in order to escape capture or destruction. A belligerent vessel has the obligation of ascertaining the character of a ship before capturing it, and the British Government cannot assume responsibility for what may happen if this is disregarded.</ref> and S.S.SS ''Wilhelmina''.<ref group="note">The memorandum states that when the ''Wilhelmina's'' cargo was seized, the British Government had before them the German decree of [[25 January|January 25]], under an article of which imported grain and flour might be delivered only to certain organisations under Government control or to municipal authorities. It has since become know that on [[6 February|February 6]] this article was repealed. The effect of this change must be decided in the Prize Court. The article in question, however, was not the only reason for the seizure of the cargo: the conduct of [[Germany]] was sufficient justification.</ref>