THE NEW PIRACY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2695, 15 February 1916, Page 5

THE NEW PIRACY

GERMAN ATTEMPTS TO STIR If BAD FEELING FRENCH CRUISER LOST HEAVY FIGHTING I EAST AND WEST , ' ■ ALL DERBY'S SINGLE MEN CALLED UP ' , ' Very violent fighting is reported from both the Eastern and Western theatres -to-day, particularly in the West, wlieTe hand-to-hand conflicts for th'e definite possession of ground took place. Various comments, from different sources, point to the conclusion—definitely stated by one newspaper—tha 6 America has been fooled by German diplomacy on the question of submarine warfare; she has sought for points of strategy rather than for points of honour. The newpirate war memorandum, it iB cons idered by Germany, is calculated to prejudice Britain's relations with America. There is no further news of the big development which seemed yesterday to be pending in tjie Balkans; Rumania is still the centre of intense public interest. A French cruiser has been sunk by a submarine off the Syrian coast. All the- single men in the Derby groups have been called up.

THE NEW PIRATE WAR AMERICA AND THE MS ELEMENTS OP SERIOUS FRICTION By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Amsterdam, February 13. A semi-official .message from Berlin states: "Now that the Memorandum on submarine war is published, and also Herr von Bethmann Hollwcg's declaration, expressing the feeling of tho entire nation, that lie could not allow Germany to be humiliated pr robbed of her submarine weapon, the Budget Committee of the Diet publishes the following resolution, adopted on February 9 1 " 'The Committee would consider it injurious if the Government's attitude towards Amorioa should rostrict our freedom to revive, at an opportune moment, unlimited and thereby fully effective submarine war against England.' " 1 PRESS COMMENT ON THE DECREE London, February 13. The "Daily Telegraph's" New York correspondent says it is • understood tlie Entente will not accept America's proposals for the disarming of merchantmen. Pro-Germans loudly assert that the only alternative is to warn Americans npt to travel on armed vessels, and to compel such vessels to leave American ports within twenty-four hours after arrival. The correspondent doubts if the threat contained in Germany's latest Note is likely to succeed. The "Morning Post's" Washington correspondent takes a more serious view of ;he Note, which, he says, may <iause serious friction. Vessels of the American linos, on which most Americans now travel, will not; carry munitions, and Germany will have no interest to sink them. She will devote her energies to sinking the Entente's vessels, feeling, sure that America, will not make serious trouble if people of the belligerent nations are murdered on belligerents' merchantmen The "Evening News" correspondent says: "The_ Aust-ro-German Note caused the gravest apprehension in administrativg circles. President Wilson knew the Note was imminent. Colonel Hpuso, who visited Germany, told President Wilson on January 2-5 of Germany's' decision; hence President Wilson's remark on the 27th. 'I cannot toll what America's international relations may be tomorrow.' President Wilson _ realised the impossibility of distinguishing between armed and unarmed ships at sea, and was convinced that if another unarmed vessel was sunk diplomatic relations must cease, and tlie severance be followed, so Colonel House informed him, by an immediate declaration of war by Germany." ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, February 13. Tlie "Times" .correspondent at Washington says that the Hearst" Press is discussing the imminence of a draptio polioy towards tlie blockade. Anglopliobe leaders are marshalling their forces in Congress. President Wilson's recent sensational speeches have startled the. public, who, seeing the German difficulty easily settled, imagine that President Wilson's talk of external dangers refers to Britain. Nevertheless, the little popular dissatisfaction which exist? "iveJ the blockade is not suffioient to outweigh the general desiro that there should be no war. MANOEUVRED BT GERMAN. TRICKERY. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) ' (Rec. February .14, 5.5 p.m.) ■

London, February 13 The "Times's", correspondent at Washington says that the cat is out of tlie Prussian diplomatic bag. "Count Bernstorff (the German Ambassador to the United States), witli rare cynicism, has made tho delivery of the famous Lusitania memorandum the occasion foT the announcement of the .war-on-merchantmen memorandum. This ..explains the lack of jubilation in American official circles over tlie apparent settlement of tho Lusitania negotiations. It is feared that Amcrica lias been manoeuvred into a most difficult position. It is assumed that Mr. Lansing (United States Secretary of State) put out liis memorandum to the Allies believing that it would be accepted, and pi esumnbly yielding to tlie insistent nagging of tho Central Powers in tl)9 hopes that thereby be would facilitate the settlement of the Lusitania cast,. Berlin's records (methods ?), it seems, are ominously strategical. Germany has not only found a convenient way of nullifying ; the practical results of President Wilson's Lusitania victory, hut has stirred up a controversy fraught with unpleasantness to Anglo-American relations, with considerable danger to American prestige." Tlie German Press unanimously applauds the memorandum, describing it as an extremely important step, which may prove to be the turning point of the war. Captain Perseus (the German naval writer), in the "Tagohlatt," thinks that tlie now policy "will remove, many submarine snares. The "Lokal Anxoigoi" says: "This will hit England directly, wearing away a vital nerve." FRENCH CRUISER LOST OFF SYRIAN COAST SUBMARINE SCORE CLAIMED BY GERMANY The High Commissioner reports: — London, February 13, 5 p.m. "The French Admiralty states that grave lears are entertained for the fate of the cruiser Amiral Charner, olt tho coast of Syria, in view of the UtTman claim that a submarine lias sunk a French warship." By TclecraDh—Press Association-uopyrtjrht London, February 13. There has been no news of the French cruiser Amiral Clianier since February 8, when she was on the coast of Syria. The Germans claim to have submarined a French warship on February -8. v TThe Amiral Clwrner is an armour?'! oniissr of 4702 tons, and 18 knots upwd, built iu 1833-5. She has two 7.G'iuch, si* M-mco, nii4 fourteen Mtmll _irans.£

AN ATTEMPT TO BREAK PAROLE GERMAN STEAMER TURNED BACK AT SOUTH AMERICAN PORT. Rio do Janeiro, February 13. The German steamer Asuncion attempted to slip out of lielcm Harbour on the pretext' of changing her anchorage. The gilardsliips opened lire, and the Asuncion returned to her anchorage. CHASED BY A RAIDER. ' New York, February 13. The Critic (?) Bas arrived. She reports being chased by an enemy ship near Gibraltar. Some suggest that the enemy ship was the Moowe. STEAMER SUNK IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. Malta, February 13. The British steamer Springwell (5593 tons, Well- Line, Ltd., Newcastle), bound for India, was torpedoed without warning. Her officers and crew, numbering seventy-three,. were picked up and landed here.