SUBMARINE WARFARE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1917, Page 5

SUBMARINE WARFARE.

BRITISH STEAMERS SUNK.

TREACHERY AT WORK

TOKIO, February 25. The liutiah* Reamer,i Peruoas and Worcestershire! were sunk otf Colonuu. Details -have not beeu levealed, but it is believed that They tv.erc sunk by explosions, < due to a Gorman plot.

SWEDEN. PREPARING.

CREDIT FOR DEFENCE PUR-

POSES

1 STOCKHOLM, February 25

The First Chamber of the Diet baa carried a military grant of - 3 Q.^o0 0. 0U i) kroner for;the defence of pwcdish neutrality. The Second Chamber had voted only 10,000,000 kroner. During the debate the Foreign Minister tated that .something had happened during the past few days, which greatly aggravated SwedcUV pesdibn, necessitating a larger vote to safeguard her neutrality. The situation was more grave than over and the future was . very dark. The .grant will be submitted at a joint session of Chambers. It ia expected that the GovonV merit. will debate the threatening danger at a. secret sitting,

A CONFERENCE HELD.

BETWEEN GERMAN LEADERS

AND NEUTRALS

COPENHAGEN, February 25

Herv von Bctliniaiin-Hoihvecr :md Count Zimmcnnnnn conferred at Ins Wilhelnistrasso with ’neutral Ambassa* dors. * HOLLAND AND GERMANY. THE POSITION CRITICAL. AMSTERDAM, February 25. Dutch shipowners on Saturday dechupd that the situation was moot critical and warned Germany that however peaceful Holland might be, she would not tolerate everything. The resumption of the sailing of twenty vessels for America this weciv may be cancelled.

BRITISH STEAMER LOST.

TORPEDOED BY U BOAT

Received flap day at 9 n.m., LONDON, February 26. The Falcon of Cardiff (2241 tons) was torpedoed and- sunk.

VESSEL TORPEDOED.

THE WARNING GIVEN

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAHLE ASSOCIATION.]

Received, this.day at 8.45 a.m. -' LONDON, February- 20. The Laconia was torpedoed while eu route from New York to England without warning.

TWO BRITISH 'VESSELS.

SUNK BY U BOATS

LONDON, February 25. The British steamer Iser (21G0 tons) has been sunk. The Batidoen is now reported to have hem sunk.

BELGIAN RELIEF SHIPS.

SAILINGS RESUMED

LONDON, February 25. The railings of the Belgian Relief Commiseion’s have been resumed via the north route-, Germany granting them rate conduct. Arrange, meats are now being made for releasing the relief ships, in British port;’.

ARMED MERCHANTMEN.

THE PRESIDENT’S DECISION

WASHINGTON, February 26. President Wilson asked Congress for authority to arm merchantmen and to take any other means to f protect American lives and interests on the high seas._ He declares that the time has arrived when influences other than material things must be considered if the United States is to uphold his citizens’ rights.

AMERICAN INTERESTS.

THE PRESIDENT’S ATTI-

TUBE

[ADSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.]

Received this day at 8.35 a.m. WASHINGTON, February 26. President Wilson addresses Congress, immediately asking_ for power to protect American lives and property on the high-seas. It is understood... that his future policy will be armed neutrality.

SINKING OF THE LACONIA.

270 PASSENGERS-SAVED.

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.K. CABLE ASSOCIATION

Received this day at 8.-35 u.m. LONDON", Eehruary 26. . Six Americans were aboard the Laconia. Two " hundred and seventy passengers were rescued.

REPLY TO CHINA.

GERMANS VERY CON r

CILIATORY.

[AUSTRALIAN ,<*ND N,7... LaBLR ASSOCIATION, ]

. ' Received this, day at 11.5 a.in. . PElviN, -February 26. The Chinese Minister at Berlin has;. informed the Government that Germany stated that' she could not alter the submarine campaign, but would respect Chinese lives and property, and promised to do her utmost to .secure 'China’R participation in the.peace conference -if relations with Germany were maintained.

RESULTS..OF TH3 CAMPAIGN

GERMANS PROFESS TO RE SATISFIED, ■

[AirSXKALUN And N. 35. GAELS ASSOCIATION.]

Received this day at 11.5 a,in

AMSTERDAM, -February. 20

Derr- lialliu,- in an interview, declared that thei iGermau Admiralty should be satisfied, with the results of. unrestricted submarining, the chief aim of which was to interrupt England’s traffic and not to sink ships. This bad completely succeeded, as neutral sh-ipmu'” had been brought to a standstill.

GERMANY’S REPLY.

TO BRAZILIAN NOTE,

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.]

Received tliis dav at 1.5 pan. RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb, 20,

Germanv baa replied to Brazil’s declaration, refusing to' recognise the submarine blockade,. stating that the blockade will not -be abandoned, and diplomat!: negotiations in case of the loss of Brazilian chips. THE OUT. AMERICAN COMMERCE SUFFERING.

[A VST’RADIAN AMD UZ. CAULII ASSOCIATION*]

Received this dav at 12.30 p ;n. WASHINGTON, February 20. President Wilson recited tlic circumstances of the Housa tonic and Lyman Law as evidence of German determination to disregard the rules of humanity and international law. He pointed outbow American commerce suffered. > * “Our cqprmerce is suffering ratlier in apprehension than in fact,” lie added, “rather becaT.se so many of our ships are timidly keeping to their home ports than because American ships lu.ve been sunk.” ' ■ \

The situation at present was substantially the same as when lie addressed Congress last. except this tying up of Am ovum n commerce. An act, however, had not occurred, but the expression of purpose on Germany’s part had civon uToundUithe impression that if an overt act was avoided it was because the German submarine co'unmudors acted will) unexpected discretion and .restraint.

The situation was fraught a ;th the gravest dangers and possi hi lilies, and the necessity for action may home at any time. Therefore, as Congress was about to expire, President Wuson asked for full • authority and power from Congress to deal w.lb the situation in whatever way was necessary with the purpose ot 'defending the lives and coiunun 1 of American people. The President eoncludde by emphasising the necessity of-keeping; the'fundamental human rights before all minds in America, lie was speaking of no selfish material rights, but of rights whose foundation is that righteous -passion for justice, upon which all law and all structures, of the family, of the State, and of mankind must rest. No man v American- principles at heart can hesitate to defend these things. If it was impossible to safeguard American rights by diplomatic means against unwarranted infringements, there may be_ no, recourse but to armed neutrality, for which there is abundant American precedent. ‘ ‘ft’ is devoutly to be hoped that it will not be necessary_ to put armed forces anywhere .into action,” added the President. “The American .people do not desire if,, and our, desire is not different from theirs. I see that they will understand the spirit in which I am acting, the purpose I hole next my heart, and would wish exhibit in everything I do. I am anxious that the .people of nations, at war should not mistrust us. I hope, that I need give no further proof and assurance that 1 have already given throughout nearly three years’ anxious p once that 1 am the friend of peace and mean to preserve it for America as long as I am able. I ain not now proposing or contemplating war, or any steps that may lead to it. War can only come by wilful acts and the aggression of others.” President Wilson explained that he wanted the general authority of Congress, believing that the people were willing to trust him to act with prudence and a, true spirit of amity. Fie also asked for authority in particular to supply American ships with defensive armament, and credit to provide insurance as against the present war risks.,'