On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 57, 12 February 1916, Page 5

On the Sea

WARNING TO NEUTRALS. MERCHANTMEN MUST NOT Q'Z ARMED. • "United Press As-soo. vnoN. ] Amsterdam, February 11. A German memorandum to Neutrals state that henceforward armed enemy merchantmen will he treated as belligerents. It warns neutrals not to trust persons and property on such vessels. NEW POLICY DATES FROM MARCH 1. London, February 11. Austria and Germany have notified Neutrals that the new policy regarding armed merchantmen will be effective from March 1. CERMAN ADMISSION OF REUSE OF ARMED MERCHANTMEN. CASE FOR THE SUBMARINES! NINETEEN ATTACKED BY MERCHANTMEN! , (Received 8.5 a.m.) Berlin, February 11. The memorandum banded by Germany to the Neutrals regarding the treatment of armed merchantmen, states that Britain, prior to the war, gave shipowners guns and ammunition, and tbe personnel necessary for drilling gun crews. Germany agreed that such ships maintain the character of' peaceful merchantmen while they carry arms solely for defence. In accordance therewith, the Ambassador at Washington on August 25, 1914, gave America far-reaching assurances that British merchantmen would never fire unless they were first attacked. On the other hand, Britain had armed vessels under other flags, and these should be treated as war vessels. The German' Government does not doubt that the merchantmen equipped with guns acquire a warlike character whether the guns serve for defence or attack ; also, that such activity is contrary to Nation Law. Germany, however, takes into consideration the contrary conception by treating the crews as belligerents, not as pirates. Some of the Neutrals concurred in the British view, and others held that armed where merchanters attacked German Reports from German navalihen show that British merchanters are not only offering armed resistance, but even attack the Germans under the repeated use of false colors by Britain. The Allies are copying Britain's example. A. British Admiralty memorandum instructs the merchantmen to wage war mercilessly upon German submarines without awaiting warlike action whenever and wherever they meet the sub-

marines. i ■ ( The memorandum Concludes: In view of the circumstances, enemy mer•hanters, after a short interval in the interest of Neutrals-, will be treated as belligerents." . Germany has notified the Neutrals in n-der that' she may warn their subjects before entrusting their persons and properties to armed merchantmen. An tppendix enumerates nineteen cases vhere merchanters aettacked German mbmarines.

FRENCH PRESS COMMENT.

MASK FOR MONSTROUS ILLE-

CALITY."

[TJnited Press Association.] (Received 9.30 a.m.) Paris, February 11

Le Matin, commenting on the new lei-man threat on armed merchantnent as belligerents, states that when submarines torpedoed the Lusitama md manv other unarmed vessels, the Germans'were not troubling themselves to make certain first whether oi iot they were armed, hence, no imporance should be attached to the latest ,itiful manoeuvre, which is intended o mask the monstrous illegality o! Germany's barbarism.

JEW ZEALAND'S CENTRALISED

SYSTEM.

LORD FISHER TO INSPECT.

Unitjed Prkbs Association. (Received 9.30 a.m.) London, February 11. Lord Fisher is investigating th< aedical arrangements and proposes 1 isit Walton and inspect New Zea aid's centralised system.

SUGGESTED SPECIAL ENVOY Tl

WASHINGTON

BRYCE OR BALFOUR ?

nWTKD PBK«« AhHOOIATION (Received 9.30 a.m.) London, February 11. The Manchester Guardian urge; sending Lord Bryce on a special envo, to Washington with a view to settlinj in a truer perspective the whole prob lem of the sea blockade, which is th. Allies' most effectual weapon agams the unbridled tyranny on land. Other newspapers suggest sendim the Hon. Mr Balfour.

THE DiRAKE-ROON ACTION

AN UNOFFICIAL REPORT.

CONFLICTING STATEMENTS.

New York. February 11

Messages from Hamilton, Bermuda say nothing is known of a bnttte be tween the Roon and a British cruiser The vessel lias not reached Bermud: and advice has been received indicatin that the prize has been taken eh" whore. i

On the oilier hand a message from vashiagtou states the British Emhasy received the report concerning the toon from men living on an island—no name of which is not disclosed—.id sufficient credence was given to lie report to warrant the authorities mding the information to the press, hey added that the report had reach.l them unofficially. A CAMPAIGN OF OUTRAGE. /ILL the pirates re-appear. London, February 11. The newspapers interpret the Oera,m memorandum to indicate that the iermans intend to embark on anither campaign of piratical outrages, 'he Daily Mail construes the move as i reprisal for the Baralong incident.