ANGRY HOLLAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1385, 13 April 1915, Page 4

ANGRY HOLLAND.

SINKING OK THE MEDEA

VTHAT DOKS OKU.MANY .Mr'.AN t LONDON. Alareh -J7. A sped;.'lly-summoned Gabinel at die Haitiu: is the German menace" io Dutch shipping. The outcome' ut the .Ministers’ dclibci I ;!tioiis i.s awaited with die keenest interest, , . Alessapcn Jrom the Mattie .-.ay that nothing°is more difficult Ilian to piaiigo the situation created in Holland by the exploits of German submarines. It is no exapoeratioii (:o .say that the irritation caused by the capture <d the J)ntcb steamers ' Zaansl room, Ihitavicr V., .Mecldcnbur-. and Zevcnberjien, has been greatly intensified by the sinking () f the Outch steamer Medea, wliicli was torpedoed oil the linplish coast.

from the commonr.s made in many quarters, it mitdit lie assumed tliat a crisis is impendin';. There is a considerable amount 0) suppressed

excitement, Inn it would In- mist:iUtto assume hastily that tin* result nl German action will bo tho extreme stop of war bet wood Germany and Holland. The Dutch arc eminently a calm peopie. and believe in exhausting any questions before reaching a grave decision, and in giving tho fidlest consideration to all tho pros and cons before jumping to conclusions. This is what they are now doing. They are irritated, hut not to the point of exasperation, though this jnight he reached alter a lew more experienees like that oi the .Medea. The Dutch arc most provoked hy the absence of any Gorman warning in connection with this action, und Holland awaits the explanation it has requested from Germany. This has not so lar in .ell furthcoming, possibly because reports of tho incidents have not yet reached Merlin. Germany’s aetiou is not regarded necessarilv as an indication of her intention to. provoke tho Dutch into taking strong measures. ihe Dutch consider that Germany’s hands are so lull that she does not wane to have an additional enemy. It is also considered possible that Germany will endeavour to justify her action hy international In n leader headed 41 Ihe Dallying of Holland'’ ihe Times says;---We are in the presence of delinerate German attempts to apply the principle of frightfulness to neutral, especially Dutch, shipping- " The 'Dutch press rightly observe* that German blockade practices against England go far beyond any action taken hy Britain against neutrals trading with Germany. Can it he Germanys intention to goad Holland into an ain’t ndc of settled hostility towards Germany;* Wo fail to perceive any positive advantage which the Germans thus hope to derive. "Tho feeling in .Holland is greatly perturbed over the sinking el tin' Medea, which has been described as an act nf arbitrary violence, demanding complete compensation from Germany. We cannot: refrain From expressing our sympathy with the Dutch in this trying situation. The war has placed on them burdens which a less generous, self-controll-ed and stc.u-... ..rud people might he unable to hear. Her trade has suffered, the country has been flooded with refugees. and her position between Hie British hammer ami the German anvil has been delicate and difficult throughout." The Dutch press declares that theru is no possibility of a iiiha,. ae. A Dutch vessel has been deliberately sunk in cold blood. The hope is expressed that tin* Government will am: now with the skill which has won the trust of the whole nation.