AMERICAN PRECAUTIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1917, Page 2

AMERICAN PRECAUTIONS.

Foiling Interneds’ Plans.

New York, Feb 2 Au order has been given to captains of interned ships to destroy their papers and cripple the machinery. Officials foiled this plan of the interned in New York, including Hoboken, where there is a total of thirty, aggregating 303,600 tons. Precautions have been taken against scuttling at all ports, Torpsdcers watched the entrance to New York aft;r tight-tall. Government have made a list of a thousand German propagandists, and also their meeting places. Marine rates have doubled and companies refuse to quote beyond the 4th February. Tarnowski ba3 arrived. He Bays the German peacß move was spurned by the Allies. The struggle must continue. The Note was a complete surprise.

Tho Gorman View (Australian &N.Z. Cable Aasocia ion and Renter). New York, Ft b 2 The New York A mei icsn’a coneBpoudcnt at Berlin interview!d Herr Zimmerman who alleged that Biitpin is treacherously employing bespit*! ships and universally arming merchantmen. Zimmerman added—ln the eieps we tako to meet theso measures we will do our utmost Io safeguard the lives and property cf leaiiab, bet having endeavored to submit oic cause to tha arbitrament ofrsa oi, we must disclaim ivepetwibilry for any unhappy results that, may follow our foes determination to con'inua tbe struggle. MR ASQUITH SPEAKS Victory is Certain {Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.)

fc London, Fsb 1 The Rt Hon Mr Asquith, ex-P<e-mier, addressing Liberal and Conservative delegates at Lidybank, said he would not refer to the circumstances of his resignation as public attention should not be districted from the supreme topic which is tho prosecution of the war to a worthy and decisive end, and an honourable staple peace. Tha Allied resources were wisely organised and assured an inevitable victory. The idea of the wariesuking in a stalemate is a meie dream. However tho fortunes of tbe war might fluctuate the balance more and more favored the Allies and an ultimate victory ia certain, but we must employ our utmost endeavor to ac* celerafe it. • The B.itl&h blockade is one of tbe greatest achievements in the Navy’s annals.

The submarine menace is grave, but our navai measures and shipbuilding will counteract tbs useless waste in time, Germany’s so called peace overtures were transparently inßincpre, and put forth with ulterior motives, but tbe Allies were bound respectfully to listen to President Wilson’s Note amounting to a declaration oi American ideals. This ideal of a world-league arouses oar sympathies. The British conception of the enthronement of public right as governing European politics did not differ fundamentally ; therefore the Allies, inestimating the minimum peace requirements, must remember the dead; also the enemy’s character and methods as revealed, Her war guarantees must therefore ba tangible and solid. By a victorious peace we mean peac3 in the interests of* the social moral welfare of humanity. We do not desire more, but we could not accept less, We must concentrate our resources for a decisive victory on the field as the precursor of an enduring peace.

Sir Edwaid Carson states that the declaration regarding submarines does not minimise the war dangers, but our Admiralty is grappling with the problem with tireless vigour. Our hourly anxieties only stir ne to greater increasing effort. A Turkish Suggestion. Amsterdam, Feb 1 The Dusseldorf “Anzieger” pub-. lishes a telegram from Constantinople that the Stamboul University proposes the Kaiser as a candidate for the Nobel peace prize. German Preparations. Stockholm, Feb 1 The greatest secrecy is observed as to Germany’s war preparations. A neutral attache returned from the front declares that nobody is allowed to visit any front, and probably only the Kaiser, Generals Hindenburg - and Ludendorff share the military secret movements, Petrogkad, Feb 1 Except in the Riga sector, where 3 divisions of German reinforcements have arrived, the enemy is transferring considerable troops from the Russian fronts to the Western front. London, Feb 1

Germany has demobilised a large number of men to enable her to enter the economic struggle immediately peace is declared. .. Haig’s Report London, Feb 1 General Sir Douglas Haig reports: Wo improved our position northward of Beaumont Hamel. We carried out a successful raid south-eastward of Neuville St Yaast, and repulsed attempts to approach our lines south-eastward of Armentieres and eastward of Ypres. Two other attacks in the neighbour* hood of Wytechaeto by strong parties dressed in white beaten back with heavy losses. The enemy’s artillery was more active southward of Ypres. The British prisouered 1,228 Germans, including 2 7 officers in January. Among those socially distinguishing themselves were the Second Battalion of the Third New Zealand Rifle Brigade.

The Future of Pacifls-

(Austi' li iQ & N.Z. Cable Association) London, Feb 1 The Hon Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward endorse Mr Loug’s statement, and agree that New Zealand will never give up Samoa. Nevertheless they express anxiety lest Germany is playing cff the Ahieß against each other in her peace negotiations so as to secure an rg'tation from Little Englanders for a return of the colonies, Mr Masaey emphasises the necessity of a strong Dominion attitude at the War Council, Another Denial. (Australian & N K, Cable Association). London Feb 1 The Admiralty reports that a Ger-

man wireless message alleges that the Brittanio carried 2,500 British soldiers, not invalids. These alterations are based upon the sworn testimony of Albert Messany, an Austrian singer who was interned at Malta at the outbreak of the war. He returned to England in November aboard the Btittanic. The only true statement in Me3sany’s story is the fact that he did return by the Brittanio, because he was an invalid and therefore was repatriated. The German pres 3 message is filled with similar falsehoods with the view ef manufacturing pretexts for their latest method of warfare.

It was announced and cannot be too einpbaticaPy re-stated, that ever since the beginning of the war none but invalids and the hospital staff were embarked on any British hospital ship.