THE TIMES' OPINION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 206, 8 February 1915, Page 5

THE TIMES' OPINION.

A CONFESSION OP FAILURE. Received 7, 5.5 p.m. London, February 6. The Times' naval correspondent says tlie German threat will be generally received with derision. These warnings, addressed to neutrals and ourselves, are also intended for home consumption, to put heart into the German people. For three months have German submarines wandered in the Channel and around our coasts, intent on the very business that is now foreshadowed, but they nave failed to secure a single transport or to interfere in any way with ourselves and our Allies. The announcement really amounts to a confession that the submarines haya failed to accomplish their mission. GERMANY'S IMPOSSIBLE TASK. Received 7, 5.5 p.m. London, February 6. i The vice-chairman of the Cunard line i declares that Germany could not liope ' to blockade Britain unless she had a f h.indred times more submarines than she i possesses. ] ■ 1 AMERICA WAKES UP. ! A WARNING TO GERMANY. ■ UNITED STATES MAY JOIN THE ALLIES. , Received 7, 5.5 p.m. London, February 8. The New York Herald says: "One . thing is certain. If a single. American life is sacrificed by these German pirates American people will exact the bitterest and fullest retribution. Judging by this latest specimen of German barbarity Mr Roosevelt is right in his view that the United States may yet be called to join tlie Allies and to help to cliai n up this mad dog of Europe." A CONCESSION. FOOD FOR CIVILIANS WILL BE FASSED. Received 7, f1.5 p.m. Washington, February 6. Germany has informed the United States that she does not intend to seize or molest American vessels laden with foodstuffs for civilian populations in enemy countries, and she hopes tliat Britain will not make the reconsideration of this decision necessary by seizing the Wilhelmina. CANNOT BE EFFECTIVE. DESPERATE SCARE SCHEME. London, January 0. Newspapers consider that Germany's blockade of the coasts will be farcical. It is a fantastic attempt at prospective retaliation against Britain's preventing the import of eornstuffs into Germany, because of tlie State control of the wheat supply, and a blockade is invalid unless it is effective. Shipping circles view the threatened blockade as a paper blockade "made in Germany." .Sydney, February 6. Shipping circles regard tlie German threat to attack unarmed merchantmen with equanimity. The general opinion is that this is another instance of German bluster and that the British Navy is quite capable of protecting the merchant service. This sort of thing is always expected and the wonder is that we have had so little of it. Passenger vessels are filling as usual. The general manager of the Orient Line thinks tlie Germans capable of any action, after the attack on the hospital ship Av turias. Possibly Avar rates may be ' raised, but it is inconceivable, in view > of other German threats, that the pub- ' lie ia going to be intimidated. Colonel Burns, of Burns, Pliilp and ' Co., says that surely the greatest seaipower in the world is capable of under-

taking everything necessary for the safety of vessels in the Channel. The threat is a kind of desperate appeal to try to frighten people from following their usual business. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, February 5. The .Times, in a leader, on the Wil■ltelmina's shipment of foodstuffs, asks how, when the German Government proclaimed a monopoly on foodstuffs, can civilian foodstufl'3 bo distinguished from military. Are Germany's enemies to stand by while she ii irapplying ark. , forces from neutral ports? ' Copenhagen, February 5. Hcrr von Bethmann-Hollweg, in (in interview, stated that Germany would use every opportunity to starve England in revenge for her starving Germany. Neutrals had made no protest against Britain's action and must take the consequences. He added, "We arc not going to die of famine,"