GERMANY RELAXING.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1917, Page 5

GERMANY RELAXING.

RESULT OF AUSTRIAN PRESSURE. Received Feb. 20, 9 p.m. London, Feb. 29. It is understood Germany, as a result of Austrian pressure, is willing to exercise leniency in the Mediterranean by "ranting concessions in .detail but. not jn principle, and will possibly agree to warn passenger steamers before sinking, and "it molest American steamers in the Mediterranean which are not carrying contraband. * AUSTRIA NEGOTIATING. Received Feb. 20. 9 p.m. Lo/don, Feb. 20. The Morning Post's Budapest correspondent states that negotiations with Austria-Hungary and the United States jontinue. It is hoped that diplomatic relations will remain unbroken. SAFEGUARDING CREWS OF U BOATS United Service. Received Feb. 21, 12.55 a.m. Amsterdam, Feb. 20. The Taglisclie Rundseliau states that tho crews of <U boats are provided with divers safety appliances, oxygen tubes, sea-proof refreshment flasks, and 'safety waistcoats. When a sunken submarine touches the bottom a buoy is automatically released, rises to the surface, and sends out an S.O.S. call. A FRENCH SUGGESTION. Received Feb. 21, 12.50 a.m. Paris, Feb. 20. The Naval Committee has invited the Government to award a- prize of half a million francs for each submarine destroyed or captured. SWISS MINISTER IN TROUBLE Berne, Feb. y9. The press urge the recall of the Minister at Washington if it is proved that he initiated the negotiations between Germany and America. It is believed he was the unconscious tool of Count Bernstorff. A TALL ORDER. Washington, Feb. 19. Ecuador has replied to Mexico's proposal for joint neutral action with a view to ending the European war. * Ecuador suggests a pan-American oongress in Uruguay in order to obtain a concerted expression of the views of the Ameri&n republics. TAifJKOWDALE MEN STILL PRISONERS. Washington, Feb. 19. The State Department, announces that a demand was sent on Saturday to Berlin for the release of the Yarrowdale prisoners. A message was received from the German Government last night that they will be released shortly. It is not known whether this is an answer to Saturday's "demand or to the previous inquiry. GERMAN LOSSES. Rome, Feb. 1-9. Swiss information is to the effect that Germany lost 115 submarines up to February 16, and Austria 13. The losses were heaviest in January and February, DANISH CAPTAIN'S EXPERIENCE. Copenhagen, Feb. 19. The captain of the Tlior II narrates that after the vessel was torpedoed lie, his wife, and six-year-old daughter, were taken on the submarine, while the crew were placed in lifeboats and eventually landed on the Irish coast. The captain and his-wife and daughter were eight days on the submarine, which sank two British steamers and a trawler. One of the steamers was loaded with munitions, and as it was sunk without warning the explosions were so sudden and violent that the submarine was severely damaged, and the crew thought their end was near and immediately returned to Germany for repairs, passing the north of Ireland and Scotland. They came to the surface on February 12, neai Heligoland, and the captain and his family were-finally released. FRENCH FREIGHTER ESCAPES. . New York, Feb. 19. The French freighter Guayne has arrived from Bordeaux. The captain reports that a submarine attacked him off tho French coast, firing three shots without result. The Guayne fired two 05 millimetre (2.« in.) shells and the second hit the submarine, which showed evidences of distress and sank. There was a jubilant celebration on board the Guayne. EFFECT ON SPANISH TRADE. Madrid, Feb. 19. Senor Romanes, in the Chamber, said the entire Spanish merchant fleet had' been paralysed since January, but the Government Was continuing to negotiate in the hope of improving the situation. He believed they would soon obtain the; desired results. ! VESSELS SUNK. London, Feb. 19. Eleven of the Romedalen's crew are missing, -- \ The British steamer 1010 {3802 tons!