FURTHER NEUTRAL PROTESTS

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 35, 9 February 1917, Page 5

FURTHER NEUTRAL PROTESTS

AMERICA'S HEAVY WAR CLOUD HOSTILE EXCHANGES IMMINENT TO COMBAT SUBMARINES THE ADVANCE ON BAPAUME Correspondents state that the possibility of America averting- war wi th Germany is becoming less hopeful, the submarine brrtrage on the California and the reported holding by Germany of all Americans as hostages for the safe conduct of Count Benstorff being new and extremely disquieting factors. The Berlin authorities regard the seizure of the interned German ships in America as being practically an act of war, •which they now consider to be certain. The British Minister of Labour (Mr. J. Hodge) states that the British and Allied military chiefs have determined, if possible, to bring about a termination of the war by the end of the coming European summer. Britain and France have agreed to grant safe conduct to Cotmt Bernstorff from America. It is stated that Germany refused to allow Americans to leave Germany until Bernstorff was given safe conduct. * Every British merchantman will before long be properly irmed, stated Mr. J. Hodge (Minister of Labour) at a meeting in London. Another Allied Conference is to be held at Rome in April, it which Portugal will be represented for the first time. American officials declare that after the war Germany will be commercially blockaded, and will be an outlaw among the nations. The British pressure on the German lines defending Bapaume is being continued, and the village of Grandecourt, _i<_ constitutes an important salient in the line, has been dared of the enemy, with the infliction of heavy losses on the Gsm&ns.