Maritime Activities

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 16 February 1915, Page 5

Maritime Activities

SUBMARINES AGAINST COMMERCE. HOW AMERICA'S PROTEST WAS RECEIVED. "A WASTE OF WORDS." ITALY ALSO PROTESTS. London, Febntary 14. Apropos of the spirit in which Germany is likely to receive the American Note the. Daily Mail prints the latest utterance of.Count Reventlow as a contrast. to those of numerous Germans, who mantain inexplicable optimism about America.

The Count said that he always expected American protests and outbursts. They must expect even more vehement and threatening outbursts. The Unit-id States should clearly understand that Indignities and threats were a waste of words. Bismarck one said: "The appeal to fear finds no echo in the German heart." Least of all does it now, when military, political and economic results lind actions ar« being weighed and the die cast. Count Eeventlow adds: "The American press apparently is inquiring if Germany wants more enemies. I desire to call the attention of the American press to the fact that this tone is entirely out of place in dealing will the German people, I can imagine that t>h is not a threat, but it is a measure r.i the part tile United States is capable of taking to intimidate Germany and persuade her to abandon or to modify her war against British trade off the British and Irish coast."

The Frankfurter Zeitung says that President .Wilson's Note to England does not deserve to 1«> called a protest. President Wilson has one recipe for Kngland and another for Germany. The country which supplies our enemies with munitions of war and then prays for peace warns us in vain.

Italy has made representations to Gcr many regarding the blockade. Rome, February 14.

The Italian Note reminds Germany that the right of belligerents is confined to ascertaining the nature and destination of cargo and adds that reprisals agains ships on the mere supposition that the flag is being abused are illegitimate.

SEAS THAT GERMANY RULES. NEUTRALS WARNED OFF. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 12, 5.5 p.m. London, February ]!>. Copenhagen officially announces that Germany lias notified the Scandinavian Governments that no neutral fishing or sailing ships will be allowed off the ScMeswig-llolstoin coast until further notice.

PROTECTING DANISH VESSELS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 15, 5.5 pm. London, February 15. Danish ship-owners are painting on their ships big representations of national flags on each side, with the word ''Denmark" in white letters in the middle.

GERMANY EMBARRASSED. AN APOLOGY TO AMERICA. Times anil Sydney Sun Services. Received 15, 5.5 p.m. London February 15. Amsterdam states that tlie. American Note lias obviously embarrassed the German authorities. The Chancellor is expected to visit the Kaiser, at the eastern front to discuss the Herman reply, which it is believed will be couched in apologetic terms, giving the United States ,1 distinct pledge for the safety of American ships, on condition that America prohibits the use of her flag on belligerent ships.

KAISER CONFERS WITH AMBASSADORS. PRESS INDIGNANT. THREATENING COMMENTS. Received 18, 12.40 p.m. Copenhagen. February 15. The Kaiser, on learning the news, returned to the East Prussian front and invited Mr Gerard, the American Ambassador. to a conference at the eastern headquarters. German newspapers, without exception, are indignant at the American Note, which is described as a gross breach of neutrality.

The Deutsch Elages ZeiUwg says the German people will support the Government ill telling Washington: "Do what you like. We are ready. The safety of neutrals is secured if you do as we say, otherwise you rim great risks." The Lokal An/.eiger, referring to th" booing at Mr Gerard at. a, Berlin theatre on Tuesday, urges Germans to exercise ■self restraint towards Americans.

Tlij' National Zeitung, after having interviewed Mr Gerard, pointed (int that an iconoiiiie war with America would lie fatal to Germany which had invested millions in America.

The only possibility of a serious con tlict. would be- the sinking of an American ship.

THE BATTERED EMDEN. SEIX FROM THE OSTERI.EY. "Our trip cut or: (lie Osterlev was pcacefM onoiiffli.'' said Mr Wm. Orioliton, architect. nf Wellington, who lias just returned aft>T a tour abroad, ''but when wo got through the canal we wove advised by Renter that two armed German merchantmen, tins Kronprinzessin Ceeilin. 10,-iOrj tons, and tlie Kaiser AVilhelm H., lfl.lilil tons, were supposed to be ofT tlie east coast of -Africa. They did not molest ns. however, and we !'■ :v of tliem.

"The most : ntcrosn,i„' ; "<ddent of the voyage was a visit to the ' '(tiered Emden. as she now lies on the reef at Keeling Island, in the Cocos group. The captain of the Osterley was very much interested in the Emden. On one occasion the Herman raider lay off the south of Ceylon waiting for the Osterley to relieve her of bullion, and stores, but did not cati'ii her. and (.11 Win morning of the Emden's last fight, the Osterley was quite near the Cocos Crouponly some thirl-v miles away. On this trip he took (he CUterlev trp to within Oiw-ntwrlfrs of a mile of the Emden. and one imh-i,],; <-• eil]i.il u:i to see the battered hull, which looki ,i like a heap of seraii-irou. The after uv,i*t yas the only tiling standing- sorest was a small hean -" ; wisf.. ( l sten' and d'd'i- sr f ■ ■ ..mils. With j/ood glasses it v-3 possible to see every detail, and eertainlv the Svrlnev must have done her work with great thoroughness."