EXCITING CHASE IN THE NORTH SEA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2389, 19 February 1915, Page 5

EXCITING CHASE IN THE NORTH SEA

; STEAMERS SUNK ; 'neutrals and the blockade BRITAIN'S REPLY TO UNITED •' STATES ■ THE AIR RAIDERS RUSSIANS DESPERATELY ATTACKED

The German buccaneer war on merchant shipping in British coastal waters has apparently begun, for to-day's news tells of the sinking of two steamers by,the enemy's submarines, an exciting chase and escape • of another steamer, and significant activity of German airships, two of which have met with disaster. • The British air raid on the Belgian . coast .towns had a happy culmination—all the machines, witli their pilots, 'have safely returned from their dashing exploit. French aero- ' planes have alsolbeen busy.. The blockade controversy stil! bulks large in the news, and to-day's budget is-featured by a long precis of Sir Edward Grey's 7000-word reply to the American Note on the subject of contraband and neutral flags, More sensational is the ' short . 'message from Washington stating that Germany has intimated'that her ; - relations with the United States are to be considered ' as strained. There is a further extract from Sir John French's interesting dispatches ' from the Western theatre, there has been nothing of sensational moment beyond the ordinary routine of artillery bombardments and trench, taking. In the Eastern theatre the Germans in the north, and the Austro-German combination in the south, have concentrated a terrific attack. The Russian • Army in East Prussia, out-numbered tenfold by the sudden concentration of German reinforcements on that .front, had timely advice of the' manoeuvre, .and appear, to have retired with few losses, despite the German communique to the contrary—the latter conjures in tie. mind a picture of a Russian debacle. Mr. Martin Donohoe, the "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent in .Bukoivma, presents a vivid picture of a terrific battle which followed an Austro-German raid on the Russian lines of'commiuiications. The courage of the Russians, whose backs were literally against the wall, was sublime, he says. , ; NEUTRAL NATIONS AND THE ■; r -:/-blockade : DOES GERMANY WANT WAR WITH AMERICA ONE CHANCE OF GETTING EASY PEACE TERMS r _~\T •. London, February 17. . Mr. Sidney James Low (the well-known publicist), writing to the "Daily Chronicle," asks: Does German want war with the United States? He argues that "the war would suit the German diplomatists, who do not wish to be left alone on the day of humiliation. The United States would mako a convenient shock-absorber, or at least might obtain easier, terms for the vanquished. - "We may conjecture that Germany might not object to giving America .1 locus standi in future negotiations. From a Potsdam and a Berlin standpoint, it may be desirable that the United States should come in as an enemy rather than riot-at all. The Bernstorff-Deroberg crusade to gain American friendship has failed, but something might be done through American amity even if America is incited to war. .

"The German military and naval position cannot be worse than it is, and Germany would be able to save her. face by saying, 'Having waged a victorious war against the Allies, we only gave way when the tremendous weight of tho Great liepmblic was thrown into the scale.' Furthermore, it would be to the interests of Germany to have the United States a plenipotentiary when peace is,being discussed. ■ From.the Allies she knows she would, have no hops of indulgence; hut America, not having a motive to harden her heart, would come to the conference in a detached frame of mind."

GERMANY STARVED TO DESPERATION REPORTED RECALL OF COUNT BERNSTORFF. , „ , ' Nsw York, February 17. A Berlin-wireless message states that Admiral Beh'ncke (a member of the German Naval War Office _Staff), informed an American naval attache that ' the stoppage of food-supplies, had forced Germany to a point where she was no longer able to feed her people, and it was necessary to bring England to terms. Therefore Germany had adopted the only means of saving herself, „ . , . r> ,• _ . - -London, February 17. It is rumoured m Berlin that Count von Bemstorff (German Ambassador to America) has been recalled. Hia wife, who was sailing for New York, has cancelled her passage. • . . ITALY ASKS A PERTINENT. QUESTION. London, February 17. _ The Italian Ambassador at Berlin (Signor R. Bollati), in the. friendliest spirit; has directed Germany's attentip.il..to the rules of, international law governing the rights of neutrals and asked for a clear declaration of Germany's attitude. He declared that no act.of a ship was justifiable upon Hie mere presumption that neutral Bags- were covering an enemy vessel. — "Times" arid Sydney "Sui" Services. ZEPPELINS TO ASSIST IN THE BLOCKADE. 1 ; London, February 17. ■Tha "Vossiche Zeitur.g" has announced that Zeppelins will participate in, the blockade.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun",Scrvices. BUCCANEER TACTICS BY ENEMY'S SUBMARINES TWO STEAMERS BLOWN UP. Paris, February 17. The German submarine Ul6 on Tuesday blew up and sank tho French steamer Ville de Lille, 997 tons, between Cherbourg and Dunkirk, giving the crew ten minutes in wliich to escape. The submarine was about to sink a Norwegian steamer when scmo torpedo craft arrived, and the submarine disappeared-. The High Commissioner, reporting on the above incidents, states:—' "Tlifi 'French' Ministry of Marine reports that the steamer Ville de Lille, tvhen near Barfleur was sunk by bombs from n German submarine. The crew were given ten minutes to escape. Tho submarine afterwards attacked a Norwegian steamer, but French torpedo-boats forced the enemy to submerge. The submarine then escaped.''' . BRITISH COLLIER TORPEDOED WITHOUT WARNING. ■ . _ London, February 17.' The collier Dulwicli., 328!) tons, has been blown up. There were two explosions. The accidsnfc happened off Cape d'Antifor, norlh of Havre. A French <iruisor rescued twenty-one of the crew. Tho rest; wero landed at Fecamp. - Paris, Vobrunf.v i-i The Dulwicli was lorßedood on a clear nfeht without waroins-

BRITISH STEAMER CHASED BY A SUBMARINE. London. February 17. Three submarines chased the steamer Kirkham Abbey, from Rotterdam, towards Hull. For minutes ,off khe Dutch coast the steamer steamed at full speed, and by zigzagging escaped the, enemy. ENEMY'S SUBMARINE BUOY .WASHED ASHORE. London, February 17. Dunkirk reports that a lifebuoy, apparently belonging to the German submarine Ul2, has been found at Zujdcoots.