Twenty-Five Years Ago

Northern Advocate, 19 February 1940, Page 4

Twenty-Five Years Ago

A critical situation arose as a result of Germany notifying the United States that strained relations existed between the two countries. It was generally thought that war ivas improbable, and President Wilson was doing his best to prevent such an _ outcome. Germany explained her blockade decision to America as an essential measure of defence against violation of international laio by England. It ivas rumoured in Washington that Germany was deliberately trying to stir up war with America to enable the Kaiser to placate his people with the excuse of overwhelming odds against Germany. The disclosure was made in the Belgian Commission’s 11th report that 2000 men, women and children were massacred in Namur Province by the Germans, and that, in places, half the male adult population had disappeared. A Copenhagen message stated that zeppelin L 3, one of Germany’s best airships , after being totally disabled in a storm, had to descend at Fango. The captain decided to burn the zeppelin so that secrets of machinery and equipment should not become known.