200 GERMAN SHIPS AVAILABLE

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1917, Page 5

200 GERMAN SHIPS AVAILABLE

FOR USE OF ALLIES. deceived Feb. 5, 5.20 p.m. London, Feb. 4. British sloping circles anticipate that 2HO German ships, valued at £50,000.900, which are coking refuge in United State;, ports, will be placed in commission, and ::sed to tarry cargoes to ''Hied ports. There are H! in Xca York alone, valued at £25,000,000. If t'nc South American Republics art similarly, about one-third of Germany's' mercantile marine will be released,

AMERICAN PRECAUTIONS. INTERNED VESSELS SEIZED. ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY STEPS FOILED. Received Feb. 5, 5.20 p.nt, Washington, Feb. 4. Steps are being taken to guard all Gorman Consulates. Orders have been issued that all American ships in American, .Argentine, or Jndian ports remain where they are. The Government is taking possession of all German ships at Hoboken, where 17 are tied up, Tt is reported that the crews put the machinery all out of action. Thirty-three German vessels are interned in the iphilippines. They are mostly at Manila. The crews attempted to destroy them, but the authorities took immediate action to checkmate the attempt. Honolulu reports that the interned German gunboat Geier is burning, and that the crew caused the fire. Received Feb. 5, 8.30 p.m. New York, Feb. 5. There is the greatest activity in naval patrol circles. The fortresses at Hampton Roads have been manned with additional artillerymen.

AMERICA'S AVAILABLE MANHOOD. OVER TWENTY MILLIONS. BELGIAN SUPPLY SHU'S ENDANGERED. Received Feb. 5, 10.40 p,m, New York, Feb. 5., The Defence Council reports that 4,773,000 fit unmarried men are available for mititary service. There is a total of 21,000,000 men between the ages of 18 and 45, and of these th« industries could spare 10,500,000. Hr. Hoover says that there are 15 relief commission ships in the near war zone. If the sen-ice is long paralysed, the situation of 10,000,000 people in P>elgiuin will be awful. It is contemplated that be will ask Germany, through the Spanish Ambassador, to open ° of safety to these supply ships.'

STATEMENT BY HOLLWEG. THE CHANCES WEIGHED Received Feb. 5, 8.40 p.m Stockholm, Feb. 5. It is stated in, diplomatic circles that Chancellor Betlunann-Jlollweg held a secret conference of Reichstag leaders, and the latter enquired whether the results of the new submarine policy would compensate for the possibility of America's hostility. Herr Hollweg replied: "If the blockade succeeds, it will succeed in a iimited number of weeks, wherein America cannot effectively participate. The German Admiralty calculates that the world tonnape is reaching a minimum compatible with the Entente continuing the war. It is true that America is able to turn out munitions and soldiers indefinitely, but they can only lie exportable by jeopardising tlio Entente's armies and peoples, and their own tonnage shortage.''

THE HOUSATONIC. HAD FULL WARNING. New York, Feb. 4. The United States Consul at Plymouth states that the Housatonic was warned. Reuter Service. London, Feb. 4. The Housatonic was submarined off the Seilly Isles. The crew were rescued by a British armed steamer. Washington, Feb. 4. The State Department has received a message from the American Consul at Plymouth that the Housatonic had f.iil warning, and that opportunity was affoided the crew to escape before the vessel was torpedoed. The news has relieved the tension in New York. New York, Feb. 4. The Consul reports that the Housat"nic's total crew of 37 were rescued by the submarine, which towed ihem 90 miles towards land CREW (JIVE# AN HOUR TO ESCAPE. Received Feb. 5, S/20 p.m, London, Feb. 4. The Housatonic was sunk in the Channel, flying the American flag, and the American colors were prominent on her sides. The submarine gave the crew an hour : n which to leave the ship. The Germans, before sinking her, searched the Honsatonic, and carried off a quantity of soap.

1 ARMY PLANS BEADY. London, Feb. 4. The Now York correspondent of Lloyd's Weekly says that the General Stall lias formulated plans for immediate action in the event of war. Two million troops can be raised yearly fo< tiro years, lie G«nend Staff scheme In!<&des .4ra«rfcaA ft/vtdf* lor muni&loan l.MiiiOT.'u*.