THE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 February 1917, Page 5

THE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

ANGER IN HOLLAND. HUMILIATION EMBUSED. The Hague, Feb. 25. Th'e Clcrman legation, in order to prevent wrong impressions, points out that the torpedoed vessels were previously aware that tliey could only depend on relative safety, namely safety dependent on fortunate or incidental circumstances. The ships were lost owing to a combination of mischance and circumstances over which the Germans had no control. The Dutch press is extremely angry. The Telegraaf states that the torpedoing of seven vessels is the greatest humiliation endured by a neutral during the war. AYe no longer see how our honor Can continue to be upheld by protests. The ITandelsblad says: "This is an instance of submarine war prosecuted with absolute contempt for Holland's rights and interests." The Dutch Gazette declares that. Germany is clearly determined to pursue her course and Holland may expect mother similar disasters. . The Gazette asks what the Government will do. All the papers comment on the gravity of the situation. The German Legation, in its extraordinary explanation of the torpedoing, says the date for the safe liome-eoining of Dutch vessels was originally fixed at February fl, but was postponed to tbt !)tli and then to the 11th, in view of the situation in Holland. Finally Dutch ship-owners informed the Legation that their vessels would leave in a group on ■ February 22 or March 7. Amsterdam, Feb. 25.

..The Dutch Socialist organ Hetvolk, in reply to German Socialist appeals, states that the German Socialist press tries to expound to us and other neutrals that the cruel necessity to which German tactics. are bringing us ought to inspire lis to more energetic action to secure peace. But peace inspired by an agony of terror dose not appear to" ns precisely what we understand by a Socialist peace, in submarine warfare has tried to bring peace, but has radically compromised all hopes of peace.

RELIEF SHIPS FOR BELGIUM. t f ' 1 New York, Feb. 25. t Mr. Hoover announces that Britain 1 ami Germany have agreed that the Bel- s gian relief ships from America to Rot- 1 tordam shall pass through a safety lane, s Sixteen vessels are now loading in Ame- ( rica and 23 others have been chartered. 1 1 FURTHER SINKING! - 1 ( 1 London, Feb. 25. . , The sinkings reported are:—The Bri- ( Itish steamers Longhirst (3053 tons), and . Beneficent (1063 tlms). Tlie captain and six of the crew of t the torpedoed Grenadier were killed. . Washington, Feb. 25. Consul® report the sinking of two . more vesels, the Norwegian Skirm and , Blenheim, with Americans on board. The crews were warned and saved. Received Feb. '2O, 5.5 p.m. Tokio, Feb. 23. The British steamers Persius and Worcestershire were sunk off Colombo. The details are not revealed. The loss is believed to have been caused by an explosion due to a German plot. THE DUTCH VICTIM'S. London, Feb. 25. An officer belonging to one of tho seven Dutch vessels, interviewed at Paddington, said:-—"Wo had picked up, about the western approach to the Chan' nel the crew of a Norwegian steamer, when a submarine appeared—apparently only one. Our ship noticed her and stopped; t!fe others proceeded. Tim submarine then fired <an aerial torpedo and nearly hit us. Afterwards gun' shots were fired overhead until we all stopped. The submarine came to each ship saying we must take to the boats within five minutes, as he was going to sink us because we were in English waters. We had hardly time to leave the ships before the submarine commenced its work. All the crews were picked up after several hours by trawlers and landed. A VILE INSINUATION. Copenhagen, Feb. 25. The Cologne Gazette declares that : Britain is attempting to persuade ■ ' * Tor the purpose ot poisoning suDmarme ■ crews, who seize it from torpedoed ves. sels. It contends that Germany is on- .. titled to use sharper means than sub- ' marines against Britain, ROOTING OUT PLOTTERS. Madrid, Feb. 25. Harry Wood, the sell-styled American who was arrested in connection with the ] submarine base at Cartagena, now ad--3 mits that lie is a German. The police J are anticipating the rooting out of the whole gang. AMERICA IRRESOLUTE. ' Washington, Feb. '25. 8 Thcro are many signs of uneasiness fit President Wilson's inaction. A hot " debate occurred in the Senate, where the 11 Democrats asasiled the Republicans for ® their endeavor to force action. 0 Senator Fall introduced a'Bill autliorising the President to use force to protect American commerce, to arm merchantmen, and empower merchantmen to defend themselves or capture submarines.