WHAT THE GERMANS ARE THINKING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2995, 5 February 1917, Page 5

WHAT THE GERMANS ARE THINKING

PEACE BY SUPER-FRIGHTFUL.NESS (Rec February •(, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, February 3. Political circle; in Berlin are greatly perturbed at the wireless messages announcing America's indignation. The German leaders had hoped that America, understanding the desperate plight of Austria and Germany, would undertake a new demarche with the Entente Powers m order to force an. early peace conference. The nobility, including a number of the Imperial Princes, are owners of immense properties in America. The Kaiser has invested a fortune in America.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE' 'STEP IS IRRETRIEVABLE. • ,(T!eo. February 4, 5.5 p.m.) Rotterdam, February 3. A German semi-official agency slates that whatever course America may tako will have no significance. The step is irretrievable, unci [cannot be influenced from outside. Herr von Bethman«.-Hollw<« explanations to the party leaders smothered the opposition, and convinced them that the new their best to. terrify the ueutr.fXns Admiral von Scheer (Head of. the Admiralty), in a. message to the newsßaiers states: "My motto is: 'Our future lies on the seas: TheßriSlS? Mb'ns may gnash.their teeth, but we nnll strike without me ' The German news agencies state that 400 submarines will_partafo> in the blockade A 1 officers from the German patrol ships in the Baltic have long been called back and trained for submarine service. A great number of Zeppelfe of/newCehavo also been constructed to attack England.Reuter. THE KIND OF PEACE THEY WANT. (Rec. February 4, 5.5 p.m.) m, ,„, .it,.,,,,,., , Paris, February 3. ine I'eUi Pansien s" Zurich correspondent reports that at a ronfprfm™ at Berlin, Count Rsventlow said: ."If the United States does no? remain neutral we will bear it courageously. Even the most cleverly-devised peace would mean rum for us. Wβ must have frontiers sufficiently protected, aud territory m the east for colonisation We must have liberty on the seas, not international, but Gorman liberty. We also want Belgium. Our Grand Fleet is necessary- —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN-AMERICAN PRESS ATTEMPT TO INVOLVE THE PRESIDENT. ~„ v vi ..cu \ ;-L ,» New York, February 2. ,», n * cw .^ orl s &tilats comment has caused some surprise Hie German-Amoncan organ says: "Wo are obliged to give Germany, an we have Riven ■Britain, a. free hand to conduct the war as she sees fit, so lone as we are not involved or wronged. We may safely leave the matter in the hands of President Wilson, who was elected on the platform of 'peace witli honour. We have entire confidence i n his ability -to interpret the meaning of Germany s Note to protect America's interests in every respect in which they may be threatened, endangered, or denied."-Aus.-N Z Cable Assn. CAMPAIGN OF PERSISTENT LYING New York, February 2. The "New York American's" correspondent at Berlin interviewed Herr Zimmerman (Foreign Secretary), who alleged that Britain is treacherously employing hospital ships and universally arming merchantmen. Herr Zimmerman adds: "In the steps we take to meet these measures we will do our utmost to safeguard the lives and property of neutrals, but', having endeavoured to submit our cause to the arbitrament of reason, wo must disclaim responsibility for any unhappy results that may follow our foes' determination to I continue the struggle." NO DOUBT ABOUT PIRATES' INTENTIONS SECOND MEMORANDUM TO WASHINGTON. Washington, February 2. 'A' second memorandum delivered by Count Bernstorff with the German Note differs somewhat in substance from the Note. The memorandum states, inter alia: "Germany is jinablo to further forego the full-use of submarines. Tho United States will realise that the Allies' determination to destroy the Central Powers gives back to CJermany tho freedom of action she reserved in the Note to the United States on May 4, 1916. Germany, therefore, will forcibly prevent within tho barred zone all navigation, including that of neutrals to and from England tfnd France. All ships met within that zone will bo sunk."—Aus.-N.Zi Cable Assn. GERMAN HIGH SEA FLEET READY FOB, SEA. I (Rec. February 4, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, February 3. The newspaper "Agenzialiarra" leanis from Gorman ■ sources that the enemy's fleet is fully prepared for another raid in the North Sea. Hundreds of warships are only waiting for Berlin's signal.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TROOP CONCENTRATIONS ON NEUTRAL FRONTIERS. (Rec. February 4, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, February 3. Messages from various parts of tbe frontier report German troop concentrations, including cavalry and artillery. The German, officers declare that these are purely defensive measures, as the new submarine warfare may produce complications. Similar precautions are being taken on the Danish fron-tifcr.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. POPE APPEALS TO THE TEUTONS (Bee February, 4, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, February 3. The Pope is appealing to the Central Powers, especially through the Papal Nuncios at Berlin and Vienna, against their unrestrained submarine warfare.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SUPER-FRIGHTFULNESS BEGINS PHLEGMATIC BRITISH SEAMEN (Rec. February 4-, 6.5' p.m.) London, February 2. The new super-frightfulness has beg™- The submarines are mostly shellin, trawlers and sinking ships without warning. The latest victims are the British steamer Essonite (598.t0n5), the Spanish Algorta. (2117 tons), the Danish Kepihave, and the Norwegian vessels Sardinia, Heck, and Ravensbourne. Two trawlers were sunk by gunfire, and three lives lost. _ Neutral shipping k almost paralysed. Switzerland's position is most serious. She is faced with absolute ruin. The only exempted port connected with her railways is a small harbour on the French coast.-Umted Service. BRITISH SAILORS CONTEMPTUOUSLY INDIFFERENT "(Reo.. February!, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 3. '' Germany's threat is not making the least difference to tho crews of our merchaXen. They are conßdent in tbe Navy's power to cope with every Sailors and Firemen's Union secretary states that British sailor., will not be intimidated by threats of fngbtfulness "£otta»S <£• Potsdam pirate can do in the future can be worse than the terrors our seamen have experienced in the past.. If twenty ships Bign on Way there will not be the slightest difficulty m gettin fo mon. They are made of tho of opinion in shipping circles is that tho only difference now is that the Admiralty will have to cope, with more «™«™« submarines. It is stated that three submarines were completed every »eek in Germany there being sixty boats between Dantzig aj& Wi helmshaven. Th , c eT'h'a.vel been given intensive training and promised J'Eh rew«*. Sfnste =;. S e?a e n£ fieKft t i placedl on'oertain banks in certain narrow water, where they can be discovered. AMERICAN SEA TRIPPERS UNDISMAYED. (I?ec. February 4, 5.5 p.m.) Wndon, February 3. The 'American shipping companies state that 'American bookings are undiminifihed and there have been no cancellations of bookings, which lately have'heen larger than usual. The travelling public is apparently unperturbed, and oven women show no a.nxiet.y. The cancelled trip of the Nieuwo ■ Amsterdam affected scores of Americans it) England, who had booked to join the steamer Falmouth. It is estimated that a thousand 'American passengers are now on the iAtlantlliv—Beutor.'

BRITISH UNDERWRITERS WILL NOT RAISE , TEE RATE!.

(Rec. February i, 5.5 p.m.) London, February. 3. . 'Hβ LonoTou Underwriters, at a meeting, decided not to increase the rates. Their attitude indicates that the Allies can copa with the new cam-paign.-—The "Times." A £100,000,000 SHIPPING WAR LOAN. (Rec. February -1, 5.5 p.m.) '■ February. 3. The Chamber of Shipping in the United Kingdom has circularised shipowners, asking them to consider a plan, to subscribe to tha War Loan £i for every ton of shipping they own. It is estimated that the Chamber jbbiu could raise £100,000,000.—Au5.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SCANDINAVIA'S CHIEF DIFFICULTY Copenhagen, February 2. • Difficulties of coal supply are the main cause of the immediate anxiety in Scandinavia. Norway has ordered large consignments from America; and half of Sweden's coal comes from England and half from Germany, hut the latter was out down recently owing to labour shortage. The leading Danieh gas companies have only a few days' supply.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. London, February. 2. The Norwegian steamer Portia, 1127 tons, has been sunk. SWEDEN ALSO APPREHENSIVE. (Rec. February 4, 5.5 p.m.) ■ : StMkholm, February 3. The Swedish insurance Committee has refused to issue policies on res-' Eels loadiug for France or Britain. Mails to England have been stopped.-" Iteuter. DANISH SHIPPING STOPPED. ■ (Rec. February 4, 5.5 p.m.) Copenhagen, February 3. The Danish Shipowners' Association has stopped all shipping to Entente countries, pending the result of the Government's negotiations witß the belligerent groups.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HOLLAND FACES THE SITUATION The Hague, February 2. A conference between the Government and ship-owners discussed the possibility of continuing neutral shipping, especially to the Dutch Indies. The Government promised to support this, and also' to protect vessels now afloat. Meantime the Government' suggested that ships should not sail unless the Government is consulted. A message from Ymuiden states: "A Dutch trawler, wliile fishing iu ths North Sea, was repeatedly shelled by a German submarine, though the trawler was immediately stopped. The- skipper asked for an explanation, and the pirate's commander replied that he believed that the trawler had attempted to ram the submarine."—Router. SHIPPING PRECAUTIONS IN SPAIN Madrid, February 2. Spanish ships trading to France and England have been diverted- 'A , trawler has landed the crew of a torpedoed Danish steamer. 'Another steamer, while towing the crows in boats, was torpedoed,•and the trawler then picked them up. The Minister of Marine has telegraphed to the Spanish port authorities temporarily prohibiting sailings.—Reuter, THE WISDOM OF ARMING LINERS PROVED BY STATISTICS. Paris, February 2. It is stated that British'statistical records show that out of a total of 78 armed liners attacked by submarines 72 escaped. Out of 100. unarmed vessels only seven escaped.—Reuter. BRITISH DESTROYER CLAIMED TO BE TORPEDOED. ■ (Bee. February 4, 5.5 p.m.) • Amsterdam, February 2. J.t is announced in Berlin that a German submarine saw, on January 18, a British destroyer of the M class, in. a sinking condition, after being torpedoed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu.-Reuter. * RELEASE' OF RAIDER'S AMERICAN CAPTIVES DEMANDED. (Rec. February 4, 11.15 p.m.) Washington, February 3. America has demanded the immediate release of the Americans who were captured by the Atlantic rafifer.—Reuter. '■ . '■ -. . AMERICAN NAVAL CONVOY FOR MERCHANTMEN (Reo. February 4, 11.15 p.m.)! . • ■ Washington, February 3. The American Consuls in belligerent countries ha,ve been instructed te suspend all activities favourable to_ German_ interests. The Government is considering the question of convoying American merchantmen through , European -waters by the American Fleet.—Reuter.

WHERE AUSTRIA STANDS Rec. February 3, 3.30 p.m.) . ...:,.. $"ashingtort, Febrosiy 2. The 'Austrian Ambassador (Count Tarnowski) says that • the ' Bsipeief bade him cultivate the friendliest relations with the Xlnited States, gieujg an era of prosperity for a free Poland. ( - ■ WILL' 'ADHEEE TO (Rec. February 4,11.45 p.m.) Wathington, Febiruatj; & The American 'Ambassador at Vienna Has cabled his Government <>&,< Austria will adhere to Germany's course.