"commence without" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are describing something that has begun without a particular element or person. For example, "The meeting commenced without the CEO present."
His relaxation will last about five more weeks before it starts in earnest, when barring a minor miracle — hardly this team's specialty — the playoffs commence without the Chicago Cubs for the first time in Piniella's three seasons in charge.
Bank shares declined despite the First Niagara Financial Group's announcement that it had agreed to buy NewAlliance Bancshares of Connecticut for about $1.5 billion in stock and cash, the first bank deal to commence without government help in many months.
In such circumstances American action in self-defense will take place on whatever scale deemed necessary using whatever weapons are appropriate and will commence without warning".
Intervention could not commence without a formal petition to the Head of State of Gabon.
Intervention could not commence without a formal request to the Head of State of Gabon.
The proposal, presented on April 7, recommended that the re-survey to mark the Harris Line commence without further interruption by Michigan, and that the residents of the affected region be allowed to choose their own state or territorial governments until the Congress could definitively settle the matter.
The projects had commenced without environmental assessments or ministry approval.
If they do not get it, then "legal proceedings will be commenced without further notice".
It is because agroforestry plantation cannot be commenced without having plots of land as they are complementary in use.
The curious dealings led to congressional hearings about why the merger commenced without any disclosures.
Except for John Payne, Morrison and the assembled jazz musicians had never played together before and the recordings commenced without rehearsals or lead sheets handed out.
