London, Aug. 18. HE accusation that England has violated the international rules.of sea warfare, comes singularly inappropriately from Germany who has herself already violated all those rules in her unsuccessful attempts to blockade the British Isles," states the Ministry of Information, in reply to a German High Command communique announcing the "total blockade of Britain."
"In the course of these attempts, Germany has for some time past been exerting her full powers of attack against neutral shipping, of which 736,162 tons have been sunk since the outbreak of the war, but this has not deterred neutral vessels from seeking the safety of British convoys. It therefore seems most improbable that Germany's words will succeed now where violent deeds have signally failed.
"Moreover, the bulk of what wes formerly neutral tonnage is now in the service of the Allies, including 82 per cent. of the Norwegian, 90 per cent, of the Dutch, 83 per cent. of the Belgian and 60 per cent. of the Danish mercantile marine.
"Some other reason, therefore, must be sought for this elaborate official reiteration of threats which German propaganda has been uttering for many months. It can only be assumed that Germany hopes, by renewed talk of a blockade, to divert British attention from her projects of invasion or from a move which she may in some other direction. Great Britain is fully prepared for any eventuality."—Reuter. enforcing the "complete blockade of the British Isles" the statement declares.
There can no longer be any question of eny free shipping in the seas around Great Britain, it insists, adding that neutral ships still sailing for England are subject to all dangers of warfare, and in the circumstances they are being misused "directly or indirectly as auxiliary, services for England."
Germany, it was added, had sent a new Noe to neutral countries, requesting them to forbid their ships to enter the war zone. "Every ip which sails for British waters in future exposes itself to danger of destruction. The whole area is infested with mines. Planes will attack
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.