SENSATIONAL AMERICAN STATEMENT

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 20 July 1917, Page 5

SENSATIONAL AMERICAN STATEMENT

THE GRAVITY OF THE 'SUBMARINE MENACE.

SERIOUS POSITION DISCLOSE!

Received 10.5. NEW YORK, Jiffy IS

The New York Times publishes n sensational despatch from its special London correspondent, Charles Grasty, with displayed page headings marked “Passed by British censor.” Grasty says American assistance is urgently needed to cope with the submarines. Discussion in well-informed circles revealed disquieting conditions showing how serious the position would be in a few months if the destruction of shipping continued at the present rate. Grasty adds that the loss of Allied shipping by submarines totals 1,600,000 tons monthly, or more than twice the amount of new construction. Changes at the Admiralty brought out the fact that at'the present rate of construction and destruction, unless British commitments elsewhere are ' considerably curtailed, there will not be enough shipping at the end of a few months to Teed England and FrancT, and maintain the armies. It is sheer waste of time, declares Grasty, to keep American destroyers in American waters when the situation here is so critical. Every craft capable of operating against submarines should be sent to Europe at the earliest possible moment.

SPANISH AFFAIRS. AN UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS. LONDON, July 18. The ‘'Daily Chronicle’s” Madrid correspondent, in a message which was transmitted indirectly, declares} that. Spain never had a crisis so great and menacing. Obscure official assurances that nothing alarming is occurring is contradicted by the most rigid and most implacable censorship ever imposed on Spain. Much of the existing uneasiness is due to newspapers being forced to silence. Fifty per cent, of the population are determined that Spain shall remain outside the the war, yet 90 per cent, of the citizens are suffering all the privations of combatant countries. The situation has been extremely delicate since Ist Juno. The Army’s fair demands have been for the moment satisfied. The Government has at last listened to the demands of railwayman and civil servants. These have been .doubtless settled. When the Government has the necessary millions in its possession the real evil will continue if the present methods are unaltord&. The desire of the provinces of Yizcdya, Aragon and Andalusia for home rule is becoming the dominant question. The deputies in these provinces met at Victoria and proclaimed the necessity of autonomous Government. The problem is much graver in Catalonia, where a violent outbreak is threatened. A collision occurred between the Madrid Government, and the Catalonian deputies. The first result was a miraculous fusion of the opposing parties in Catalonia. A meeting, backed by the whole public opinion in Catalonian provinces, invited all members of Parliament to hold a consultative sitting at Barcelona on Thursday. The Government announced that it is prepared to prevent such a meeting oven by force. The entire country awaits to-morrow with intense interest. Rapid developments are expected. Every moment is full of gravity. MADRID, July 18.

There have been numerous arrests, including Socialists and editors. The Agrarian Club has been closed. A large number of deputies belonging to. Republican reformist parties have gone to Barcelona, where a separate parliament has been convoked. Senor Datto has hurriedly gone to Lagranja, whore King Alfonso is spending a holiday.