MR. GERARD DECLINES TO TALK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3004, 15 February 1917, Page 5

MR. GERARD DECLINES TO TALK

EXODUS OF AMERICANS FROM GERMAN¥. Borne, February 1.3. Mr. Gerard (late American Ajnhassarlor to Berlin) refused to discuss polilinal matters. He estimates that only three hundred puro Americans remain in Germany. All were- advised to loave. Members of tho party ;iro of tho opinion that lank of transport is tho chief causo of tho penrcily of food in Germany Bread caTcU and otbor precautionary methods avn evidence of organisation rather than a Inck of necessities. Tim Allies should rid themselves of. tho idea that Germany can be beaten by starvation. Mr. Gerard will remain in Switzerland, for nv.e days, aud will then stii.v for somo timo in Paris heforo coins on te Spain.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. EXIT COUNT BERNSTORFF (Rec. FebriKliT 15, 0.00 a.m.) Washington, February 14. Count Berustorf) , , who will sail by the ship Frederick VIII to-day, loft the capital by special train for New York, with a retinuo of sixty persons. Extraordinary precautions will bo taken to guard the party when boarding tho ship. In addition to tho Embassy party, comprising also tho Consular officers,' wives, and servants, thoro will be 330 passsngors. Count Bernstorff, in a final talk with the pressmen, said: I liopo war will be averted, and friendly relation* soon restored." It is expected that Conut Bernstorff will reach Copenhagen on I'ooruary 27. , CHINA ABOUT TO BREAK WITH THE HUNS London, February 1.7 \ ,Tho "Morning Post" stales that China, will hand tho • Gorman. Minister al Poking his passports on Fobruary 17.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. (Roc. February l<l, 6.40 p.m.) Pekingi February 13. China, has scut a Note, to Germany protesting against the lattor's submarine policy. Tho German Minister at Peking was dumbfounded on learning of China's decision, but admitted his inability 1o communicate with Berlitz and asked tho Chineso Government to' transmit tbo Note There is widespread delight at tho failure <if the. .Jlirnian intrigues, which have become- intensified sinco tho war began.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH INTERESTS IN GERMANY. London, February 13. Holland will tako over from America all British interests in Germany.— Aus.-N.Z. Cahlo Assn. AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT TORPEDOEI) IN TEE CHANNEL ' AND BIG WHITE STAR LINER SUNK ' Melbourne, February 14. The Navy Department announces that an. Australian transport was sunk in tho English Channel. No details are available Tho Department is of opinion that tho vessel was returning to Australia. —Press Association. New York, February 13. A message from London states that tho 'White Star liner Afriq (11,990 tons) has been sunk by a submarine. Seventeen of tho crow aro missing. (Rcc. February 14, 5.20 p.m.) London, February 13. It is believed that fivo of tho Af r ; c ' s crow were killed. The British steamer Foreland (1960 tons) has boer, sunk.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Association. .' ( TROOPS HAD PREVIOUSLY DISEMBARKED. (Rec. February 14, 8.35 p.m.) Sydney, February 14. The Minister for the Navy (Mr. Jensen) states that the Australian troops on board the Afrie were disembarled some time before the sinking of the vessel, which was on her voyage outward.—Press Association. < London, February 13. Twonty shells were- fired at the Afric. Several of tho engineers wero killed. One boat capsized, but moat of tho occupants wero rescued. The survivors drifted for five hours, and wero nearly frozen. Tho submarino commander shouted: "Good-byo! Good luck!"— United Service. OTHER VICTIMS London, Fobruary 13. Tho British steamer Ada- has been sunk. The vessels, which were sunk on Monday, aggregated 7700 tons. Eleven of the crew of tho Elavore have been landed. The Norwegian motor-ship West and the British trawler Athenian have been sunk and tho crews landed. Tho smack Victoria was sunk and tho crow is missing. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF THE SAXONIAN (Rcc. February 14, 9.10 p.m.) London, February 13. Thirty-six survivors from tho Saxonian (reported sunk last week) have landed.' Tho ship was shelled and sunk on "Wednesday, and the captain taken prisoner. The boatswain died of wounds. Four of tho crow wero injured, including an American. One party of survivors drifted about in an open bout for sisfcy-nino hours, and suffered terribly.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. SUPER-FRIGHTFUL EFFORT COLLAPSING EVIDENCE IN DECREASING CASUALTIES. ' ' < London, February 13. The paucity of the latest shipping casualties indicates that the submarines aro wholly failing, owing to the British measures of clearing safe channels. It is believed that tho Navy's trophies in sunken submarines since February 1 are already numorous. The greatest confidence prevails in the Baltic, whoro chartering is steady.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ITALIAN SHIPPING "AS USUAL." ' . Rome, February 13. Despito the unrestricted submarining, tho Italian shipping continues as heretofore. Mariners regard the measures taken for their protection as effi-cacious.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

THE NAVY'S PART---AND THE PUBLIC'S HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATES THE SUBMARINE MENACE DANGER REAL, BUT NO CAUSE FOR PANIC (lice. February 14, 5.20 p.m.) London, February 13. Speaking in iho House of Lords ou tlio submarine question, Lord Charles Berosford said k> rcwottcd that tho_ Government, had not taken the country more- into its confidence on the subject. Ho pointed out that during tho last sevou days 150,000 tons of shipping had been lost, of which 10,5,000 tons wore British. "Wo have lost, sincotho outbreak of the war, over 4,000,000 tons of shipping. This is not so serious as it looks. Wo liavo replaced about 3,000,000 tons, and wo shall do hotter iii i'uturo, hut thoro is a bad timo ahead. AVo were often told that the Admiralty had the menace well in hand. That was not truo, but it is nearer truo now than it was before, because men with actual experience in modern naval wnrfaro liavo brought their ideas to tho Admiralty." Ho paid a tribute to tho seamen, sonic of whom, lio said, had been blown up twico or thrice, but who had again signed 1 on. That was tho spirit in which to boat tho Germans. Ho advocated standardised ships of from 4000 to 5000 tons. "I have faith in the present Government, but lnoro in the Admiralty. I l.eel certain that within sis weeks or two months the submarine menace will uo well in hand. A Hint to Civilians. Lord Lytton (Parliamentary Secretary to the- Admiralty in tho House- of Lords), replying, said that the reeources of tho Navy would not be found wanting in this supreme crisis. Germany had tho initial advantage in the submarining of ships and tho sowing of mines, but wo wore not afraid of a blockade by .terror, and felt confident, vbas wo would coutiuuo in the future, rs wo had in tho past, not only to supply tho armies of our Allios, but to keep tho routes oneu. Tho Government was accelerating ship-building, and tho labour difficulty hud now boon ovorcomo. The construction of destroyers had grnatly increased, though r.ll in the world would not suffice to produco all that was required. The arming of merchantman was progressing, and special measures hud been taken to deal with the submarines. Measures had been devised, with very considerable success, and whether in tho dostruotion of submarines or to ensure escapo from attack, the success achieved was suflicient to jnstify a- largo deureo of confidence Our success in this last phaso would depend on how civilians co-operated with the Navy. It was absolutely essential that tho wholo of our availablo cargo space should bo given up to the carriage of necessities. Lord Dovonport's standard of food consumption was far from being adopted by tho whole country, mid from the Navy's viewpoint, it was essential that those regulations should be strictly observed. It would be impossible for the Government, ho added, to take the country fully into its confidence, because that would impart information to the enemy

Tho Germans should learn by oxporionoe at sen, not from speeches. Expedients wero being employed besides thono which Lord Berosford had mentioned,

Trust tho Navy. Lord CuTsmn. (Lord President of tho Council) said that the suhmarinc situation was 1106 bo aggravated as eorao had assumed. The British mercantile marino consisted of 3800 vessels of ovov 1600 tons each Lit July of 1914, the ■total aggregating 16,850,000 tons; tho total at tho mid of last January was 3540 vessels, aggregating in tonnage almost 16,000,000. Tims tho net loss from all causes during tho thirty months of war liatl only hecn It or G per cent. It was staled by Sir John Jellicoo that tlio Admiralty was not dissatisfied with what had hecn dono during tlio past fortnight, or with tlio number of submarines which had never returned to ; Tho results gavo increased conMonco for tho future, hut it must not ho foreotten that tho most effoctivo mothod of meeting tho monaco was to destroy the subniarines. Neutral shipping was throatoned more than ours. Tlio Government was about to pay increased freights, pay the insurance, premiums, and offer premiums for neutral crows, and was also purchasing noutral. ships wherever possible). Tho now construction wa3 proceeding apace. The Government was doing its liest to meet ,the situation. Other vessels wore being huilt in America' and Japan. Tho Government was now engaged in a schome for further stricting or prohibiting certain imports. Lord Curzoii concluded: "Wo admit the dptiger is real, but thoi'e is nocauso for panic, if we keep 000 l and trust the Navy and refrain from pestering it. Wo should helieve that the Navy is doing its hest, and if wo do our duty like tho Navy, -flie enemy will be disappointed, aud wo will defeat tlio greatest menace that has faced the country since Napoleon."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LARGE NUMBERS OF U-BOATS DESTROYED. Paris, February 33. The "Petit Parisicn" publishes an interview with Sir Edward Carson, in which tho First Lord of tho British Admiralty states: "Tho British Navy is übiquitous. It is awaiting tho lurking enemy in the North Sea, on coasts of Brazil, West Africa, and the Camerootis. . It is helping the French at Salonika aml Bast Africa., it is with tho Italians in the Adriatic, and. with tho Russians at Archaagol. It is also strictly blockading Germany. Tlio Germans, in a ivild rage, and Teduced to tho direst necessity, will not hesitate at any, crime." Referring to the sinkings by submarines, Sir. Edward Carson said: "These barbarous attacks ereato a difficult and serious problem, upon which all tho Admiralty Board and staff officers are working day and night. Britain has destroyed a very large number of enemy submarines, and British submarine, activity is constantly increasing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HOW THE HUNS PREPARED STANDARDISED SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTION. London, February 13. A well-infonned expert says: "Germauy prepared for her super-frightful-ness by standardising her submarines. Hundreds of factories specialise in single parts, which are sent to Kiel, whore skilled staffs bolt them together. Tho crews are trained by experts nt training schools. Tho living conditions on the U-boats have been improved. The vessels are iiow made with doublo hulls, aro fitted with not-shearing apparatus, and carry guns equal to'those on destroyers."—Aus.-N'.Z. Cable Assn. TRUNING DOWN THEIR. SUPER-FRIGHTFULNESS. New York, February 13. Tho United Press Agency at Berne states that the German Ministers, Herr Helfierich (Minister for the Interior), Dr. Solf (Minister for tho Colonies), aud Count von Boeder are opposed to inciting American participation in the war. Junkers, industrial leaders, and manufacturers of munitions now favour changing tho policy of ruthless submarining.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu. FIRST PUBLIC FEARS OF INVASION WOEFUL PICTURE IN GERMAN PRESS. Amsterdam, February 13. The "Cologne Ziotirag," in a remarkable outburst, pictures the woo that will overtake the Fatherland if Germany is forced to her knees. The paper particularly fears the results of hordes from Australasia, Canada, Tonkin, and Senegambia breaking tho steel barriers and inundating German land.—. Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.