ON THE SEAS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15723, 17 October 1916, Page 7

ON THE SEAS.

THE MONROE DOCTRINE

BREACH BY GERMANY.

(riy Gable. —Prt-ea Association. —Copyright.) (Australian and Js".Z. Association.) (Received October 17th, 12.20 a.m.) PARIS. October 16.

M. Jean Herbette, the -noil-known authority oil international law, says that tho L"o3 violated the Monroe Doctrine. and he asks: '"Will America permit this doctrine to bo thus disregarded? President Monroe intended his prohibition to apply to naval as well as to military control of American areas of influence.'' M. Herbette recalls that in IS7O the fact of French cruisers watching off New York for German ships resulted in a warning noto to France. The principle then laid down, he declares, has not been forgotten.

SUBMARINE

NUISANCE

AN AMERICAN VIEW. (Keuter's Telegrams.) WASHINGTON, October 10. The Joint State, Navy, and Neutrality Board, after consideration of the position, has submitted to the State Department a i ,'porfc containing a recommendation concerning tho submarine warfare off the American coafit. The findings aro unfavourable to the continuance of German activities similar to those of last Sunday, as such operations in the proximity of America constituted a nuisance, which should be abated. America should refuse hospitality to all belligerent war vessels, a policy apparently similar to that adopted bv Holland. PERTINENT QUESTIONS. (Australian and N.Z. Cabl© Association.) WASHINGTON, October 15. It is understood that tho United States will ask Germany what moans it took to safeguard the passengers and crews on tho torpedoed vessels, and draw attention to tho report that the Stephano was fired • on without ■warning, also that the AVestpoint's crew had to take to the boats, and that no vessel was near.

MOVEMENTS OF SUBMARINES

WASHINGTON, October 15. The Government- is understood to have learned that U53 is returning to Germany, but another submarine is en rnute from Hamburg to the United States.

SIGHTED BY A LINER

NEW YORK, October 15. Tho captain of the Bovic, which has arrived from England, reports that ho saw a submarine 28 miles south-east of Nantucket. She was two miles away, following the Hellioglav, which was bound east. The Bovic raced to port. Later, in response to a wireless enquiry, the Hellioglav report-ed that she was safe.

BRITAIN'S NAVY

AN IMPRESSIVE TOUR

(United Service.)

LONDON, October 15. Tho Admiralty arranged for a party of Dominion pressmen to visit the naval bases and tho Grand Fleet. The trip commenced on. Saturday at the southern base, where tho pressmen were extensively conducted over dockyards and workshops, where they saw intense activity in naval and commercial shipbuilding, and all manner of wonderful defensive and offensive craft: Many women were employed on lathes and other of the lighter machines, showing that tho Admiralty is fully utilising female labour where the employment >f women could not have been imagined before the war. The pressmen were also shown a leviathan battlo-cruiser, the latest thing in naval science, giving an overwhelming impression of strength and power, combined with the greatest speed and monster guns. They found officers and men of tho Navy keen and alert, and the visitors declare that whatever the Huns may have achieved at Kiel or Bremerhavon in construction, thoy can never produce seamen equal to these. HUGE BATTLE CRUISERS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON, October 15. Naval officers believe that Britain is building 40,000-ton battleships, with guns larged than sixteen inches.

NEUTRAL MAILS

AGREEMENT WITH AMERICA.

THE ALLIES FIRM

NEW YORK, October 14. The Allies' reply to tho American protests regarding the searching of mails leaves the question unsettled. It points out that the Allies and America agree on the principles involved, but differ as to method. The Allies insist that the diversion of neutral ships to Allied ports does not amount to illegal jurisdiction. Merchant vessels voluntarily entering a port also must submit to its jurisdiction, and - it ig legitimate for tho Allies to ascertain if they aro not carrying anything hostile to their interests. Tho German custom of discussing even official correspondence dealing -with hostilities renders supervision imperative. The Allies point out that Germany has declined to recognise The Hague Convention, which was not signed bv certain Powers. Nevertheless, the Allies were guided by the intention of tho Convention, and therefore forward inoffensive maila as quickly as possible. Regarding the right of search of mails on the high 6ea.s, the Allies adopt a reasonable interpretation of the Convention, but 'have not admitted, and cannot admit, that this imposes a definite legal obligation. They expressly reservo to themselves the right of search on the high seas should such a step bo necessary. Owing to abuses, fraud, dissimulation, and deceit on the part cf the enemy, experience has shown that mail examination has resulted in tho detection of dangerous plots, which would not have spared even neutrals. The German naval authorities destroyed mail matter at sea without examination.

After dealing in detail with the treatment of different classes of correspondence. the Note says:—"The rights of the United States cannot includo the protection of correspondence of a hostile character, or disguised, or for direct or indirect hostile destination.

The Allies will always bo ready to investigate faults and nbuses in connexion with their system of search, and to determine responsibility for them.''

The "New York Times'' comments upon tie above that tho difference between tho views of the Allies and of America seem to be irreconcilable, and say:—"Tho puzzle is how to keep' neutral mails inviolable and yet permit the belligerents to search lor contraband."

A GERMAN DESIRE

NAVAL- BASE IN NORWAY.

LONDON, October 15

A Norwegian who has just arrived, when interviewed in London, stated that a Norwegian statesman of the first rank recently told him that Germany is trying to force Norway into the war. She would like any excuse, to seize a Norwegian base, but Norway will not play Germany's game. Tho traveller added Hint- many Norwegians whose ships have been sunk havo signed oil on British merchantmen.