THE NAVAL WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17097, 21 February 1916, Page 7

THE NAVAL WAR.

, SUBMARINE WARFARE. AMERICA AND GERMANY. "IMMUNITY TO MERCHANTMEN." B 7 TeJsgnph—Presi Assooittion— Copyrifhi WASHINGTON, February 18. After an interview with Count Bcrnstorff, Mr R. Lansing, American Secretary of State, said that America would accept nothing short of a full and complete agreement. Germany s announcement of a now submarine campaign, he declared, was inconsistent with' her previous assurances. He added that assurances were wanted extending immunity to all merchantmen.

OFFICIAL DECLARATION. (Received February 20, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 18. The State Department has notified all American diplomats that morchantmen have the right to carry defensive armament. The United 'States thus reverses its previous declaration of policy. PRESIDENT WILSON DENOUNCED. THE RIGHTS OF AMERICANS. WASHINGTON, February 18. Senator Lodge, speaking in the Senate, denounced President Wilson's attitude on tho armed merchantmen question. Ho declared that the United States was simply delivering itself into the hands of Austria and Germany. American citizens were within their rights in travelling on any ships. If the Government abandoned rights that had existed for two centuries it was untrue to its trust.

BLOWN UP AT SEA. BRITISH STEAMER LOST. (Received Februarv 20, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, Fobruary IS. The British steamer Cedarwood (654 tons), from Middlesborough with a cargo of cast-iron, was blown up at sea. Of the crew all except two were drowned.

A GERMAN REPORT, HUNDRED NEW SUBMARINES. LONDON, February 18. The Geneva " Journal " learns from a German source that Germany has built one hundred submarines of a new type. "TOTALLY UNSSNKASLEi"

LATEST REPORT OK GERMAN ACHIEVEMENT.

" Times " and Sydney " Sun " Services. ROME, February 18.

A naval journal publishes the details of a new German ironclad which is said' to be a totally unsinkable Dreadnought cruiser, fitted with triple skins of armour, between which is stuffed a nonresisting material rendering the vessel invulnerable to torpedoes and shells.