PIRATES BACK DOWN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3003, 14 February 1917, Page 7

PIRATES BACK DOWN

• ATTEMPT TO CAJOLE AMERICA ill ;o _____ 0 1 WAR'TENSION ACUTE IB ""~r ' * 1- ■ , S. 4 / — TIE WESTERN ADVANCE e , t BRITISH KEEP MOVING * d t o — d ' L ACTIVITY ON ALL FRONTS t • 0 — r S •' . 3 Germany is attempting, with small prospects of success, to patch r np the breach with America in the matter of her submarine war r policy. In a Note sent via Switzerland, proposals are mado for negotiations in the direction of establishing a modus vivendi for tho carrying on of the "U-boat piracy, but America reminds'tho Huns of • the Susses pledge. We have tho testimony of a member of Mr. Gerard's parly (now in Switzerland) that the Gewnan peoplo aro "peace-crazy," and, tho Kaiser's offer having failed, aro basing their hopes /or peace on the theory that the submarine war will force an issue on the peaco question. ■ Well-informed circles in Berlin consider ' _ that war with America is inevilablo. With tho laud forces, there is , persistent activity on tho main fronts. The British advance on the Ancre front is attracting considerable attention in the British Press, 5 % which affects to perceive in the easy surrender of the enemy's positions a Gorman kick. uY fresh advanco is reported by Sir Douglas Haig to-day. Activity is reported from the Russian front in Galicia, " and from the Allies', front in Macedonia. The Bnlgars aro aaid to have been deserted by their Gorman friends—a sign of tho enemy's ebbing \ strength. ' 1 i ... ■ . GERMAN NOTE T0 ( AMERICA ' t PROPOSAL FOR U-BOAT DISCUSSION j FURTHER PROTESTS FROM NEUTRALS By Telegraph—Pres6 Assn.—Copyright. ~,, c , , „ , ' „ ; Washington, February 12. . J-n6 ptate Department announces the receipt .of a memorandum from the ftwiss Minister, stating that Switzerland has received a request from the German Government to notify the United States that Germany is willing to negotiate with the United States, provided tho commercial blockado against England is not broken thereby. The State Department has replied that the United' States will gladly discuss with Germany any question it may propose, provided that Germany withdraws its proclamation of Jannary 31, in which, suddenly and without previous ; intimation of any kind, Germany cancelled the assurances it gave the United States on May d last; but that the United States Government does not feel that it can enter into any discussion with tho GeiTaan Government concerning the policy of submarine warfare against noutrals which it is now pursuing, unless fcna until tho German Government renews its assurances of Mav 4, and acts -upon the assurances."—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [The "Susses Note," sont by President Wilson after tho submarine attack oil the steamer Sussex, stated: "If the Imperial Government should not now, without delay j proclaim, and. make effective renunciation of its present methods of submarine warfare agaiiist .passenger and cargo ahips, the United States Government can have no other choice than to break off completely diplomatic relations with the German. Government." u In reply, the German Note stated: "The German Government is prepared to do its utmost to confine the operations of, war for tho rest of its duration to the lighting forces of tho belligerents, thereby also ensuring the freedom of the seas—a principle upon which the German Government believes itself to be now, as before, in agreement with the Government of the United States The German Government, judged by this idea, notifies the Government of the United States that the German naval forces receivo tho following orders for submarine warfare m accordanco with the general principles of visit search and destruction of merchant vessels recognised by International Law Suoli vessels, v both within and without the area declared as a naval war zone shall not be sunk without warning, and without saving human lives, unless the shin attempts to cscapo or oner resistance."] 1 WAR TENSION IN AMERICA !•■ . ' v NATION IMPATIENT WITH THE PRESIDENT. (Rec. February 13, 7.15 p.m.) mi t - • • i , Washington. February 12. _The nationlis growingly impatient^ a t President Wilson's waiting policy, which' is regarded as bemg tantamount to his acquiescence in the German' cipftatfn"' it.would welcome any overt act preGERMAN ORDER TO PIRATE COMMANDERS ' - TONING DOWN THE (Rec.' February 13, 7.15 p.m.) , , , ~ London, February 13. A Berlin correspondent states that Germany has instructed the commanders of the submarines not to sink neutral vessels—especially American ships—without warning, whenever possible, but cafecs must arise where an Amoncan Vessel may be sunk, or where Americans on board noutral vessols may be involved in.a catastrophe. Germany does not intend to depart froin the submarine policy she lias'lately proclaimed. Gorman' experts believe that if the submarines can sink one million tons of British shipping per month, beside deterring three million tons of neutral shipping from. trading, it will force Britain to consider peace. —Renter. AMERICAN SAILORS IN GERMAN PRISONS (Rec. February 13, 7 p.m.) , w . London, February 12. Horr Zimmerman (Gorman Minister of Foreign Affairs) has announced that the American sailors who were seized by the Atlantic raider on board the Yarrowdale will be held in German prisons until Germany Teeeives official information as to tho fate of tho German crows held in American ports—The "Times." MR. GERARD AND THE HUNS MORE ABOUT A PREPOSTEROUS PROPOSITION. ' New York, February.l 2. 'lhe Berlin correspondent of the United Press Agency, who arrived at Berno with Mr. Gerard, telegraphs that Germany demanded that Mr. Gerard should sign a treaty guaranteeing that German ships would bo allowed to leave American harbours in tho event of war, and threatened to hold newspaper correspondents as hostages unless Mr. Gerard signed it. Mr. Gerard refused to sign, declaring that if Americans were held it woidd be a. casus belli. Germany granted the correspondents their passports four hours before tho train departed. Germany is delaying permission for other Americans to leave, so that retaliatory measures may he possiblo if America declares war.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asan, ,' ' GERMAN PRESS ATTACKS MR. GERARD. Amsterdam, February 12. The "Berliner Lokalauzeiger" attacks Mr. Gerard, (lato U.S. Ambassador to Germany) for not placing Germany's difficulties fairly before America. It' adds: "If ho had been less friendly to tho Entente, relationshetween America and Germany would not li.-ivo been broken off."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ACUTE COAL FAMINE IN DENMARK . r, . . Coijonhagan, February 12. The coal fauune through Doiminrk is severe, and the strictest economy ia being enforced. Some cities have stopped supplies for gas and electricity works. . The situation is also acute in Norway, but it is anticipated the first loads will arrive in the spring from the Spitzbergen mines, which contain five million tons. —Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.