BEND OF BREAK!

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4158, 8 February 1916, Page 5

BEND OF BREAK!

THE GERMANO-AMERICAN

CRISIS.

SITUATION STILL EXTREMELY GRAVE.

GERMANY’S UNCOMPROMISING DEFIANCE.

slump on wall street. NEW YORK, Feb. 6. The “Hamburg Nachrichten” states that Mr. Lansing’s code of rules for submarines considers only merchant ships as non-combatants, carefully protecting old men tottering on tneir graves and gouty women, but not considering the brave men of the submarines, who form the most valuable part of the human race. The German press prophesises better German-American relations after the return of Colonel House, the President’s Embassy to Europe. Zimmerman, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs at Berlin, in an interview with a correspondent of the Associated Press, stated that while hoping that the new formula just submitted would afford a solution he admitted the gravity of the situation. He contended that Germany -, had reached the extreme limit of concessions, and would never concede the illegality of the submarine campaign. “We had thought the issue settled,” he said, “and the Lusitania question arranged. We had agreed to pay an indemnity, when America advanced new and unacceptable demands. You must not push the demands too far. You must not attempt to humiliate Germany. It is impossible to admit that the sinking of the Lusitania was illegal or to forego the submarine weapon.” He emphasised that if the United States desired to drive matters to a breach, Germany was unable to go further, and a breach, with all the lamentable consequences, must come. The statement that Germany had refused America’s demand led to a sharp fall of stocks on Wall Street, despite Count Bernstorff’s unshaken optimism. The German press is excited over the situation, and mostly demand an unyielding attitude, declaring that Germany must cling to the submarine weapon come what may. The “Lokal Anzeiger” says it seems to be a question of bend or break. If the break comes the onus will be on America.

Germany’s formula sets out that the killing of Americans on the Lusitania was without intent on Germany’s part. The destruction of the liner was an act of reprisal, and Germany agrees that reprisals ought not to be applied to neutrals; therefore regrets that Americans were killed and offers reparation in the form of an indemnity.

FRENCH PRESS VIEWS

(Received Fefi. 7, 11.30_ p.m.)

Paris; Feb. 7. The newspapers insist that if President Wilson abandons his basis of principle in the negotiations with Germany, all his claims to preside at the Mediation Congress will have gone, and all neutrals will have sjhown themselves too feeble and too egotistical. They would like to profit without pain. When the time for negotiations monies, the belligerents won’t trouble about neutrals who have not troubled about them.

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

RELIEF FORCE HARDLY TRIED

SEVERE DIFFICULTIES AHEAD

LONDON. Feb. 6. Mr Edmund Candler, British press representative in Mesopotamia, telegraphing from JBasra on February 2, stated. that the rains had ceased and the Tigris was falling. Clear cold weather had: succeeded the wet spell. The column advancing on the Tigris wag in good condition, despite its exposure to the severity of the weather. The relieving forces were faced with formidable difficulties. The Turkish defences in the swampy areas would necessitate frontal attacks across a mile of flat, coverless ground. Tho enemy’s trenches generally were invisible through mirage. In few campaigns had an army of British-Indians been so hardly tried, and had so valiantly proved themselves.

BRITAIN’S AIR SERVICES.

CALL FOR MR CHURCHILL

SIR JOHN FISHER WANTED FOR THE ADMIRALTY.

LONDON, Feb. 6

The “Observer” advocates Mr Winston Churchill as. Minister of Air Services, and declares that our air de fence is in need of his mental freshness and executive 'energy. The “Obesrver” takes up the demand made recently in many quarters that Sir John Fisher should be recalled to the Admiralty. No doubt Germany is preparing surprises, and will make supreme efforts of ingenuity and audacity to destroy British sea supremacy. Sir John Fisher is the only man living who has beaten Germany at all points of everything he has been called on to do. The country must have the benefit of his unrivalled technical genius and executive powers.

SETTLING THE SUBMARINES.

HOW THE NAVY ATTACKED

SURPRISE FOR THE GERMANS

(Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, Feb. 6.

The "New York Times” states Avlren Britain attacked the ' submarine menace it was found impossible to hit a submerged’ submarine, ordinary shells richocheting in the water like tennis balls. Experiments revealed that alterations in the shape of the nose of a shell would enable it to dive in the Avater. It Avas also found that , lyddite av as. mo re powerful if exploded ’under Avater.

Finally the British devised a new fuse and went out into the Nprth Sea and attacked the submarines. The big ships boldly advanced, and submarines, thinking th e day had come, came in droves in order to destroy the fleet. The battleships let fly their big "guns the neAV shells peppering a Avide area: The shells sank and bleAv up many submarines.