The  order  of  departure  is  determined  by  the  order  of  arrival,
unless  the  ship  which  arrived  first  is  so  circumstanced  that  an
extension  of  its  stay  is  permissible.
A  beUigerent  war-ship  may  not  leave  a  neutral  port  or
roadstead  until  twenty-four  hours  after  the  departure  of  a
merchant-ship  flying  the  flag  of  its  adversary.
Article  17
In  neutral  ports  and  roadsteads  belligerent  war-ships  may
only  carry  out  such  repairs  as  are  absolutely  necessary  to  render
them  seaworthy,  and  may  not  add  in  any  manner  whatever
to  their  fighting  force.  The  local  authorities  of  the  neutral
Power  shall  decide  what  repairs  are  necessary,  and  these  must
be  carried  out  with  the  least  possible  dealy.
Article  18

Belligerent  war-ships  may  not  make  use  of  neutral  ports,
roadsteads,  or  territorial  waters  for  replenishing  or  increasing
their  supplies  of  war  material  or  their  armament,  or  for  com-
pleting their  crews.
Article  19

Belligerent  war-ships  may  only  revictual  in  neutral  ports
or  roadsteads  to  bring  up  their  supplies  to  the  peace  standard.
Similarly  these  vessels  may  only  ship  sufficient  fuel  to  enable
them  to  reach  the  nearest  port  in  their  own  country.  They  may,
on  the  other  hand,  fill  up  their  bunkers  built  to  carry  fuel,
when  in  neutral  countries  which  have  adopted  this  method  of
determining  the  amount  of  fuel  suppfied.
If,  in  accordance  with  the  law  of  the  neutral  Power,  the  ships
are  not  suppfied  with  coal  within  twenty-four  hours  of  their


314  DOCUMENTS  ON  INTERNATIONAL  LAW

arrival,  the  duration  of  their  permitted  stay  is  extended  by
twenty-four  hours.
Article  20
Belligerent  war-ships  which  have  shipped  fuel  in  a  port  be-
longing to  a  neutral  Power  may  not  within  the  succeeding  three
months  replenish  their  supply  in  a  port  of  the  same  Power.
