ON THE SEAS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16166, 21 March 1918, Page 7

ON THE SEAS.

THE DUTCH SHIPS.

(By Cable.—Puss Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N./5. Cable Association.) THE HAGUE. March 19. Tho Foreign Minister stated that Holland had consented to the Entente claim to navigate Dutch vessels in the danger zone. In exchange tho Entente offered 100,000 tons of wheat by April loth. Holland insisted on the following conditions:—(l) Holland must be allowed to participate in the Dutch shipping space; (2) coal must bo delivered to Dutch .ships for that purpose; (3) the Allies must guarantee that Dutch shipping will not be used in the danger for'the conveyance of troops and war materials; (4) that the ships bo unarnied, and the crows allowed to participate in the navigation; (o) tho ships destroyed be replaced immediately after the war.

Herr Novons, leader of the Catholic Party, protested against the Entente's attitude, especially in view of the claim that they are the protectors of small nations. The Dutch Parliament will debate the agreement on Thursday. NEW YORK. "March 19. Tho seisuro of Dutch ships has been delayed a few hours, but officials do not believe that Holland will agree to the demands. It is understood that Holland agrees that the Allies may use the ships provided they are not used for carrying} troops and munitions, which condition neither America nor the Allies will accept. * CAPE TOWN, March 19. The Nationalist Press strongly denounces the decision to utilise the Dutch shipping in Allied ports as a flagrant breach of neutrality. (Reuter'a Telegrams.) LONDON, March 19. The Government has again notified tlie Dutch Government that the Allies will immediately proced to requisition Dutch shipping unless JlolJand tinequi-: vocably accepts the last Allied Note to which a reply has not yet been received.

It is pointed out that the apparent tardy acceptance of the arrangemont proposed earlier will no longer meet the caso as the position lias radically changed. SWEDISH SHIPS FOR THE ALLIES. (Australian and* N.Z. Cablo Association.) STOCKHOLM, March 19. By tho final terms of the Swedish agreement jt is intended to transfer 400 ; QQQ tons of Swedish shipping to the Allies. . AMERICAN TANK STEAMER'S WIN. NEW YORK, March 19. An American tank steamer, which recently arrived, reports an hour's fight with a L-boat in the Bristol Channel on February 24th. Finally a shell struck the U-boat, causing a great explosion, and sinking the U1 (mat. ** HOSPITAL SHIP OUTRAGES. LONDON, March 19. In the House of Commons Mr Bonar Law said that the naval and military authorities had decided against putting Germans officers on hospital ships.