ON THE SEA

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA

U53 RAIDS. ! IVAVE OF INDIGNATION. PRESIDENT STUDIES THE SITUATION, Washington, Oct. HI: Simultaneously with the announcenciit tliut the State Department con. lidcrs all Germany's promises to the jniteil States regarding submarine warare to have been kept as yet, the Jritish steamer Strathdene is attacked vithout warning. Captain Wilson, of .he Strathdene, is positive that his vesiel was not warned. The owners of the Bloomersdik arc imazed at hei being sunk, as she did lot carry contraband and flew the Dutch flag. The British Lmbassy is silent on the lubjcct. Mr. Lansing has gone to meet Mr. ,Vilson to confer on the situation. Notwithstanding the official reticence ;hcrc is a wave of indignation and ingct throughout America about the ■aids. The population of Newport, vhcrc the rescued people have been irought, lias been stirred to a remarkible extent by the wanton attacks of ;he submarine. There is no news of the present loca;ion of the submarine. The captain of the Stephano insists that he saw a large ■essel alongside the submarine, which he s certain was a supply ehip. President Wilson is studying the situation, which the newspapers prolounce increasingly grave. In view of the Allies' declaration that ; hey regard submarines as outlaws not mtitled to enter neutral harbours, it iB :onsidered probable here that the Allies .vill lay claims against the United States for allowing U53 to enter New>ort, Rhode Island, and depart unnolcsted. The State Department will .•igorously resist such a demand. GREEK STEAMER TWICE STOPPED. AMERICA REFUSES ALLIES' CONTENTION. Keceived Oct. 11, 5.5 p.m. New York, Oct. 10. The captain of the Greek steamer 'atris reports that his ship was stopped it 0 o'clock ,on Monday morning, 200 miles out. A submarine fired three diots, and after signals had been ex:hanged he was allowed to proceed, but was again stopped at 4 o'clock in the ifternoon, 00 miles out. The captain is ;ertain that lie was stopped toy two liferent submarines. There is much speculatifyi as to the jresent whereabouts of the second -aider, but there is a consensus of jpinion that she is hiding, submerged, n the Nantucket shoals. America refuses to accept the Allies' :ontention that neutrals should deny ;he use of their harbors to all submarines. MORE THEORIES. NO GERMAN SUBMARINE BASE, Received Oct. 11, 8 p.n New York, Oct. 10. The Tribune advances the theory that when Berlin recently celebrated the arrival of the Bremen in America the submarine had actually arrived and entered Newport News but was getting oil and jtlier supplies from a tender daily, going to sea ostensibly looking for the Bremen and acting as mother ship to the U53 md other submarines. It is jfficiallv stated there is no evidence of a submarine base in American waters. The New York American contends that the responsibility for the neglect of a belligerent to distinguish between neutral and belligerent submarines rests entirely with the negligent belligerents. UNITED STATES' ATTITUDE. "HIGH SENSE OF IMPARTIALITY!" Received Oct. 11, 10.30 p.m. Washington, Oct. 11. The American Note says that the Allies urge neutrals to prevent belligerent submarines using neutral waters, owing to the facility of submarines to avoid supervision and surveillance. The Allies therefore hold that a submarine must be excluded from the benefit of the rules ol international law regarding the rights oi war vessels in neutral waters, and warn neutrals of the great danger to neutral submarines navigating in waters wherein belligerent submarines are operating. In reply the United States Govern mont expresses surprise that it shonlc appear to 'be the endeavor of the Allies to determine the rules and actions governing what they regard as a novel situ ation, and contends that the Allies have not supplied reasons why the rules of international law are inapplicable to submarines. It therefore reserves liberty oi action in all resjiects, and will treat submarines as becomes a Power which foi more than a century has maintained principles of neutrality with a high sense of impartiality. The Note concludes: "In order, however, that there should be no misunderstanding regarding the United States 1 attitude, the Government holds it to be the duty of a belligerent to distinguisl between neutral and .belligerent submarines, and the responsibility for anj neutral submarine owing to the neglecl of a belligerent to so distinguish mnsi rest entirely with the negligent Power.' INSURANCE RATES ADVANCED. Received Oct. 11, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 10. Lloyd's lisjs raised the trans-Atlantii war risks from 30s to 10s. NORWEGIANS 'DEMAND PROTECTION Received Oct. 11, 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, Oct. 11. Ten men from the torpedoed Nor wegian steamer Raon have arrived. Foui men had perished from exhaustion, wliili a lifeboat with nve others aboard liac been lost. The Norwegian Shipowners' Associa tion is demanding that the Governmeni take measures to .protect Norwegian sail pra.