Sea Wolves Hungry

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4472, 13 February 1917, Page 5

Sea Wolves Hungry

Fewer Victims Found. British; Press Cheery arid Optimistic. No Further iig Ships Sunk. British Trade Can’t be Stopped. \ (United Press Association—Copyright.)

(Received Feb. 12, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 12. There is better news regarding the submarining. No further big ships have been sunk, though a few trawlers have- gone. The newspapers consider the first week’s submarine frightfulness disappointing to Germany’s proclaimed object, the starving of Britain. Small vessels constitute a large portion, of the victims. It is impossible to stop Britain’s overseas trade unless the submarines’ record improves. Torpedoings are likely soon to disclose that the! Admiralty’s anti-submarine tactics have been improved and extended. -The merchant service is not dismayed, torpedoed sailors signing on for new voyages.

-Admiral Reginald Bacon wrote to a war loan meeting at Greenwich: “Don’t worry overmuch about the submarines. The navy will give them all the worry they want. The splendid pluck of the merchant seamen will upset the German calculations at the end of the war as badly as did the contemptible little army at- the beginning.” A trawler picked up a boat with three Englishmen and a negro, part of tlie crew of the steamer Dauntless. They were five days foodless and in a terrible condition. They were s enti to hospital. The Amsterdam Telegraaf states that submarines are now invisibleThey receive supplies from floating, reservoirs sent from Zeebrugge. The American Consul at Queenstown reports that the Mantola was torpedoed without warning on February Bth, southwest of Fastnet. There were 165 of a crew and 109 passengers. The only American on board was the ship’s surgeon. All were saved except a few Lascars. , . The British vice-consul states. that the steamer Japanese Prince, reported sunk, had aboard twenty white American muleteers.

GERMAN NEGOTIATIONS. ATTEMPT TO PARLEY WITH. AMERICA. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) {.Received Feb. 12, 6.45 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 12.

The Daily Telegraph’s Copenhagen correspondent states that prior to the breaking off of relations, Germany proposed to Mr Gerard that in case of war there should be a re-ratification of the treaty of 1799, specifying that ships should not be confiscated, contracts respected, and the right to remain in the two countries during the war extended to merchants, doctors, and teachers, and that provision should be made against the internment of civilians. Mr Gerard answered that he was no longer Ambassador and had no authority to sign. The German Government then dropped the negotiations. . . Count Cdernius is conferring, with the American Ambassador at Vienna with a view to enabling Americans to travel through the Mediterranean without risk. Germany declares her readiness to compromise on condition that the principle of unrestricted submarining is not affected. Mr Gerard has reached Switzerland.

CERMAN CONFERENCE CALLED. MAY MODIFY MURDER CAMPAIGN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) AMSTERDAM, February 11. It is reported that the Kaiser has summoned Dr von Bet'hmann-Holl-weg, the Chancellor. Herr Zimmerman, Minister for Foreign, Affairs', and the leaders of the army and navy to confer at headquarters into the possibility of negotiations with neutrals modifying the submarine policy. ’ ‘ ZURICH, February 11. Dt von Bethmann-Hollweg, addressing tlie Reichstag on January 31 (the report being previously censored) said the German Government had carefully weighed all possibilities and was convinced President Wilson would not break off immediately nor adopt a vagorously-hostile policy. “ Count Bemstorff,” he said, “has assured us that tlie United States will not abandon neutrality in the event of unrestricted subinarmings, but will only send one or more Notes resulting m prolonged negotiations which will probably lead to nothing serious. Regarding other neutrals JJv Hollweg said: “We may rest assured that although they have made a protest, thev can and will do nothing. the Government has decided, after receiving the advice of military and naval experts, to risk even war with Ameiica. Submar inihgs are the only hope of a decisive victory over England..

AMERICAN PREPARATIONS SUBMARINE BASE AT PANAMA. (Reuter's 3 Telegram. 1 WASHINGTON, February H. The immediate creation of a submarine base at the Atlantic entrance tn tile Panama Canal was lecom mended in Congress The Secretary of the Navy asked for eleven and a half million dollars for the purpose. The general army staff is drafting a Universal Service BiH, proviclmg f°i the enrolment and drilling of ha t <■ million nineteen-year-olds annually..

HOLLAND’S STRONG PROTEST. ■: WILL HOLD GERMANY RESPONSIBLE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. THE HAGUE, February 11. White Book correspondence with Austro-Germa-ny presented \ to; -the Dutch Parliament show> that Hoi-

land strongly protests against submarine ruthlessness. The Government considers the destruction of neutral ships a violation of international as equally of human law, when the submarines fail to safeguard life, and will Hold the German Government responsible for the destruction of Dutch vessels in the proscribed zone. Two hundred factories in Holland have closed, and' others are on half time, owing to a shortage of coal.

CHINA REBUKES .GERMANY. WILL BREAK OFF RELATIONS. (Australian and N.Z. <dabl» Assn.) PEKIN, Feb. 11. China has announced that she will break off relations with Germany if tlie submarine campaign is pursued. LOSS OF THE MANTOLD. DOCTOR’S GRAPHIC NARRATIVE. (United Service.) LONDON, Feb. 11. . The Mantola’s doctor states that a violent explosion killed seven Lascars. There was excellent order. Every one immediately got into boats with the exception of tlie captain, chief engineer and the wireless expert, who remained to repair the wireless. After an hour and a half distress signals were sent. Immediately tlie submarine, which had evidently been lying in the haze a couple of miles off, began shelling the Mantola and the boats. Nobody was hurt. Sighting the Zaburnon on the horizon the submarine submerged and the ctow of the Mantola were picked up. The ship sank in the evening.

LATEST SINKINGS. (United Service) (Received Feb. 13, 12.1.0 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 12. Following are the sinkings: British—Voltaire, Olivia and Victorious. Greek—Vasillisa Olga. There is a total of 14 ships, of 24,000 tons. EVEN GREECE PROTESTS. SWISS NEUTRALITY. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) ATHENS, Feb. 11. The Greeks' reply to President Wilson affirms that Greece herself has drawn the attention of Germany to the grave consequences of submarinings, but in view of the present conditions in Greece cannot contemplate action for the protection of neutral shipping. The Swiss Federal Council’s 1 Note to America re-emphasises a determination to defend the neutrality and inviolability of Switzerland, which is certain to become a war theatre immediately neutrality is departed fiom.

S. AMERICAN REPUBLICS. A BOLD UNITED FRONT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received Feb. 12, 5.5 p.m.) • RIO DE JANIERO, Feb. 12. The Government is investigating reported plots among the crews to destroy German vessels in Brazilian ports, and all harbors nre being closed at sunset. Bolivia has protested to Berlin against the submarine policy, and has assured the United States that she adheres to President Wilson s P l gramine. , . . . Uruguay has protested vigorously to Germany, announcing that Germany will he held responsible toi sinkings. '