SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1917, Page 5

SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

ACTION IN AMERICA. A SHIPPING EMERGENCY, CALM POLICY PURSUED Washington. Fob. i>. The Berlin correspondent of the United Press Bureau states tliat Mr. Gerard received on Sunday evening a cablegram recalling liim. J-Ie delivered a copy of , the President's speech 011 Monday. President Wilson declares that a national emergency exists through there bein" insufiicient ships. A proclamation luis been issued prohibiting transfei to an alien registry. There is 'widespread discussion of the possibility of a Coalition Cabinet in the event of war. Mr. Root, who re-organis-eii the War Department, is mentioned a> ; Secretary for War and Mr. Taft as possibly a Minister without, portfolio. The Government is sending general instructions to officials to avoid hasty action and to do nothing not strictly legal. --I It is officially stated thai the President intends to move without panic. If war comes he wants 110 possible blame a 1 inched to the (iovernment or officials. Austria's formal announcement of adhesion to the (lermnn submarine campaign has been received. Presumably Count Tarnowski will return with Count Bcrnstorff. The Government denies the actual seizure of German - war and merchant ships in American harbors. However, steps have been taken to prevent furthen damage and the obstruction of harbors by sinking the vessels. EMERGENCY MEASURES. CENSORSHIP ESTABLISHED. MILITARY AND NAVAL ACTIVITY Kfw York, Feb. 0. The United States Steel Company, the Bethlehem Steel Company, and otliei leading companies have informed the Government that t.hev are instantly ready to cease work on private contracts in order exclusively to make munitions. Bills have been introduced in Congress authorising the Government, if necessary, to take over the railways, telegraphs, telephones, private yachts, and nil ships laid up in American ports. There is an unprecedented rush of Germans to become naturalised. America's first censorship has been established at San 'Francisco over news from Hawaii and the Philippines. A Bill appropriating thirty million sterling lias been introduced in Congress for the purpose of facilitating quick delivery of warships under construction and the delivery of naval supplies. The Secretary of War has ordered the immedinte purchase of army supplies to the limit of the Department's available funds. London, Feb. (i. The Central News Agency reports that Mr. Gerard, American Ambassador in Berlin, has left Berlin, and is expected to reach Switzerland to-day. AMERICAN SAILOR KILLED. New York, Feb. (1. The American Chnsnl at Queenstown lias notified the State Department confirming the killing of Richard Wallace, a negro seaman, by a German submarine. The State Department has notified the Consul to forward affidavits of the particulars of Wallace's death. ■' ROOSEVELT MAGNANIMOUS. New York, Feb. (I. Mr. Wilson has thanked Mr. Roosevelt for his offer to serve as divisional commander, and has promoted Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, jun,, to major in the rcferve army. Mr. Wilson emphnsises the need for burying enmities in face of the common enemy. GERMAN OIL AND VINEGAR. London. Feb. 0. Though officially Germany alludes regretfully to the rupture, and suggests a misunderstanding, it is pointed out here that this tone is apparently addressed to neutrals. Nearer home Germany seems to have another semi-official voice for Aiuerica. full of defiancee, as revealed in Berlin correspondents' despatches. The Hague, Feb. (I. A Dutch newsagency states from Berlin that German official circles greatly regret that President Wilson did not sufficiently distinguish between Germany's goodwill and the Entente's rejection of Germany's peace offer. II is earnestly that his words will not find an echo among European neutrals. DIFFICULTY OF HOLLAND'S POSITION. New York, Feb. 0. 1 News from Rotterdam states that Germany is confident that the blockade will substantially improve Germany's possession of orth-western Europe, because it will compel a greater exchange of trade between Scandinavia and Ger- • many. The German Government is already officially dangling the bait of increased exports of German iron and coal • in return for a monopoly of the fooa ■ business. A few German newspapers lengthily I address homilies to the Scandinavian ' countries on the insolence of Mr. \Vil- " son's invitation to follow his lead. Dutch - newspapers do not attempt to disguise ; the difficulty of Holland's position. They ■ recognise that Mr. Wilson's invitation deserves sympathy in view of Holland's, injuries, but frankly draw attention to the fundamental geographical distinction between Holland and America. Newspapers otherwise divergent on war views r agree with striking unanimity on the l danger of weak Holland breaking off re--3 lations with her powerful neighbor and l mighty America doing so on the other . side of the Atlantic. The Handelsblad crystallises the Dutch l piess outlook in remarking that Holland • "does not want the Kaiser's heart to - bleed for the poor Dutch as it bled for thepooißelgians."