U-BOATS SET FREE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4709, 6 November 1917, Page 6

U-BOATS SET FREE.

A SINGULAR INCIDENT. A somewhat singular incident winch happened in August may have hah some bearing on the arrangements reported to have been entered into between Germany and Holland, providing that U-boats shall not attack Dutch colliers from England. In March last the German submarine ÜBO took refuge at- the Dutch port of Ymuiden, and, in conformity with established usage, as her safety exceeded a period of twenty four hours, she was interned. Under ordinary circumstances—and there was nothing to make them extraordinary— she would have stayed there until the end of the war. But for some reasons which were not definitely stated, though they may be guessed, the Dutch Government agreed to the case being subnutted to the deliberation by arbitration of an alleged International Commission on which Germany, but not Great Britain, was represented. This Commission decided that U3O was entitled to her freedom, and accordingly, on August 7th, she left Ymuiden escorted by Dutch destroyers— released, as a Dutch paper bitterly remarked, in order that she might sink more Dutch ships without warning, and Dutch fishing- craft in what Germany emphatically terms “safe” channels. The question arises, comments an English naval writer, upon what grounds the .submarine was liberated. International law seems to have had little to do with the action -taken by the Netherlands Government. So far as one can judge, the decision to set free the submarine was taken upon grounds of expediency, as was certainly the case with the German destroyer V 69," which,; after an encounter with some, of our vessels, was driven in a damaged state into Ymuiden, and was there repaired, and- then allowed to go fre'd.' One may be sure of one thing— the immunity from sinking to be enjoyed by Dutch colliers lias been bought and paid for by Holland in some way. It would be interesting to know what the price was.