Maritime Activities

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 217, 20 February 1915, Page 5

Maritime Activities

GERMAN DESPERATION. .STARVATION OR SUBMISSION? .' FIGHTING FOR NATIONAL i EXISTENCE. HUNGER AS BRITAIN'S ALLY. GERMAN NOTE TO AMERICA. London, February LS. The Berlin message to America state.' that Germany lias hitherto scrupulously observed valid international rules? At the beginning of the, war Germany agreed to America's proposal to ratify the new Declaration of London, and allowed the transport of Danish provisions to England, though she was well able to prevent it. Germany had been cut oil' from oversea supplies by the toleration of neutrals, who made no protests, while Britain, with the toleration of neutrals, was supplied with goods which were absolute contraband. Germany was obliged to point out with the greatest emphasis that "the trafiic in arms, estimated at hundreds of millions, was bein' carried on bv American firms . severely prejudiced by the fact that neutrals have achieved insignificant results with Germany's enemies. She fully comprehends that these matters involve no formal violation of neutrality, but the i ntire public opinion of Germany feels i i safeguarding their rights in legitimate • rimerce with Germany, while making u limited use of their right of carrying on contraband trade with Britain and other enemies. In view of this situation, Germany is obliged to answer Britain's murderous naval warfare by sharp counter measures. If Britain summons hunger as an ally for the purpose of imposing upon seventy million civilised people the choice between destitution and starvation or submission to Britain's commercial will, then Germany is determined to take up the gauntlet and apnea! to similar allies. Germany trusts that neutrals who silently have submitted to the disadvantages consentient on Britain's hunger war will display no smaller measure of toleration for Germany, even if her measures result in new terrors oi naval warfare. Germany has resolved to suppress the importation of war material into Britain and to the Allies by all means at her disposal. She takes for granted that neutrals will not oppose the forcible suppression of the trade. Germany has proclaimed a naval war zone, and will seek to close the zone by mines. She Avill also endeavour to destroy hostile merchant vessels in every other way though she does not fail to recognise that action against Britain endangers all trade within the war zone. Without discounting this natural result of mine warfare, Germany considers herself entitled to hope that neutrals will acquiesce in the measures, as Germa.iy has given proof of her desire, to protect neutral shipping by giving fourteen days to enable neutrals to avoid the danger, which will most surely be achieved by remaining outside the w«r zone. Neutral vessels which, despite notice, enter the closed waters themselves will bear the responsibility of unfortunate accidents. Germany expressly announced the destruction of all enemy merchantmen in the war zone, not the destruction of all merchantmen as the American Government erroneously understood. Germany in future will follow Britain in presuming that neutral ships have contraband aboard, and, while ready to deliberate with the American Government in any measures to secure the safety of the legitimate shipping of neutrals in the war zone, she cannot forbear pointing out that all efforts are rendered difficult by Britain's misuse of ihc neutral flag, as in the case of the Lusitania and Laertes. Moreover, the British Government has supplied merchant ships with arms and instructed them forcibly to resist submarines. Hence it is difficult for submarines to recognise neutral vessels as such, since a search cannot in most cases be undertaken, seeing that if the vessel disguised is a British ship the search party is exposed to destruction, and thus is in a position to make the German measures illusory.

Germany to-day is fighting to resto/e the freedom of the seas, therefore she rejoiices that the America,, Governmnt lias made representations 'n Britain roneerning the illegal use of the flag. She expresses the expectation that this will foree Britain to respect the American flag in future. In this expectation submarines have heen instructed to refrain from violent action against American merchantmen. Germany recommends the United States to make ships conveying cargo discernible by means of convoys. Germany is ready to negotiate as to how this can be carried out. Germany will nevertheless be grateful if America will urge its shipping to avoid the zone until the flag question is settled. She is confident that America will recognise that Germany is lighting a heavy battle for her existence, and will understand tile motives for her recent measures. The message conel des: —"If America can find a way of causing the Declaration of London to be respected, thereby making possible the importation into Germany of the necessaries) of life and industrial raw material, Germany could not too highly appreciate such service in the interest of humane methods of warfare and will gladly draw her conclusions from tlie new situation;" NOKWAY ANNOYED. Christiana, February IS. The German proclamation lias angered Norway, which threatens to stop the trade with Germany. The German Ambassador stated that next week would s;e embittered fighting o„ the British coast, and Germany was unable to offer neutrals ships', any security. NO ALARM AMONG NEUTRALS, JIOIPR 01-' IXFUE.VCIXG AUKIUCA Received 19, 10.40 p.m. London, February It*. Tlie Daily Chronicle says: "The German libckade finds not merely British shipping, but most neutral countries, cool an(l unmoved. The threat is gcii"rnlly taken as-an expression of German ex speration and excuse for deliberate atrccitie; on the set, but maiiilv as an attempt, to use the United States as a lever to release Britain's grip on IV sea.

SHIPPING UNAFFECTED. K ATSER SUPERTNTEN DS OPERATIONS. Received 20, 12.30 a.m. London, February 10. Despite the blockade, shipping'in the Channel is normal. Bristol, 'Glasgow, and Liverpool are i.imilarly ignoring the threats. The Daily "Mail's Copenhagen correspondent couiirms that the Kaiser, Prince (Iciirv, and Admiral Tirpilz have gone to Wilhelmshaven to direct the blockade. The latest announcement from Berlin is that the Germans have built 120 big mine-laying submarines i„ the last si:; months. Each carries 100 mines.