SUBMARINE TOLL

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 49, 26 February 1917, Page 7

SUBMARINE TOLL

BIG HAUL OF DUTCH STEAMERS

NEWSPAPERS EXTREMELY ANGRY

A GRAVE SITUATION

(BY TELEGRAPH. —UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.)

: (AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 24th February. Lloyd's report that the following Butch steamers were torpedoed on Thursday night and the crews landed :—Zandjik (4159 tons), Noordedjik (7166 tons), Eemlaiid (3770 tons), Gaasterland (3917 tons), Jacatra (5373 tons), Menado (5874 tons), Bandoeng (5851 tons). The Central News states that four of these vessels were homeward bound with full cargoes, and were sunk in the western approaches of the English Channel. The arrangements for the voyage of this groiip Were in the hands of the Dutch authorities. Instructions regarding routes were not asked from the British Admiralty. ' (renter's telegram.) , * ■ LONDON, 24th February. Lloyd's now state that the Menado safely reached harbour, and that the Bandoeng, Eemland, and Zandjik are possibly still afloat. (AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 25th February. All the Dutch vessels sailed on Thursday from Falmouth, where they had arrived at varioiis dates, and were released at the request of the Dutch Government. ■ An official of the Dutch Legation privately instructed the captains of the proper course to steer. The vessels carried lights clearly illuminating them. A short distance from Falmouth a submarine attacked and sank three, and severely damaged four. (Received February 26, 9.30 a.m.) THE HAGUE, 25th February. The Dutch press is extremely angry. The Telegraaf states that the torpedoing of the seven vessels is the greatest humiliation endured by a neutral during the war. The paper can no longer see how honour can continue to be upheld by protests. The Handelsblad says : "This is an instance of submarine war prosecuted with absolute contempt for Holland's rights and interests." The Dutch Gazette says : "Germany has clearly determined to pursue her policy. Holland may expect further similar disasters." The Gazette asks: "What will the Government do?" All the papers comment on the gravity of the situation. 4MSTERDAM, 25th February. The Dutch Socialist organ Hetvolk, in reply to the German Socialists' appeals, says : "The German Socialist press tries to expound to' us and other neutrals that the cruel necessity to -which the German tactics are bringing us ought to inspire us to more energetic action to secure peace, but peace inspired by agony and terror does not appear to us precisely what we understand by a socialist peace. The f rightf ulness of the submarine warfare has for the time being radically compromised all hopes of peace."