GERMAN WARNING TO NEUTRALS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2378, 6 February 1915, Page 7

GERMAN WARNING TO NEUTRALS

MERCHANT SHIPS WILL BE SUNK . ACCIDENTS IN NAVAL WARFARE CANNOT BE AVOIDED (Rec. February 5, 7.35 p.m.) Amsterdam, February 5. The German Admiralty warns neutrals that after February 18 every hostile merchant ship of the British on the seas or in the Channel will be destroyed, regardless of danger to crew and passengers. (Rec. February 5, 9.50 p.m.) Amsterdam, February 5. The German Admiralty further warns neutrals not to entrust passengers, crews, or goods to British vessels, as neutral ships will incur danger owing to Britain's misuse of neutral flags, as ordered on January 31. • Accidents in naval warfare cannot always be avoided oh traffic around the Shetlands, the east part of the North Sea, and a, strip at least 30 knots along the coast of Holland are not endangered. QUESTION OF BRITISH RETALIATION FOREIGN OFFICE ANNOUNCEMENT (Rec. February 5, 9.50 p.m.) London, February 5. The Foreign Office announcement issued prior to the receipt of the Gorman admiralty's statomont, says the German decree makes it evident that all _?rain and flour passes under the control of the Government, if the Wilhelmina is intercepted, therefore she will bo submitted to a Pme Court in order to examine the new' situation; the owners of the Wilhelmina will bo indemnified for any delay, and the shippers of cargo compensated. It is untrue that Britain is seizing other consignments. No decision has been reached on that point, but it is the apparent intention of Germany to sink merchant ships without bringing them into port or providing accommodation for the crews. The loss to civil life and the attempt to torpedo a hospital ship has seriously raised the question whether Britain sh6uld not' retaliate against German trade, taking care not to inflict loss on neutral ships wEch sailed before the warning was given.