PEACE OFFENSIVE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9965, 8 May 1918, Page 5

PEACE OFFENSIVE

TERMS PROPOSED BY GERMANY RESTORATION OF BELGIUM. By Telegraph— Press Assoc Jr. ‘ • =-' -".invriijhJ Australian and N.Z. Cable, Association. LONDON, 'May 6. The “Central News’’ correspondent at Tho Hague says it is reported that the German peace proposals will include the restoration of Belgium, autonomy for Alsace and Lorraine within the German federation, and tho submission of the colonial questions to an international conference. LONDON, May 6. A later message states that the references to a German peace offensive are evidently based on the receipt of certain proposals through a neutral source. The “Central News’’ correspondent at Tho Hague reports that M. Colyn, a former Dutch Minister for War, carried Dr Kuhlmann’s proposals to Loudon. German circles in Holland declare that Germany’s terms are already known in Downing street. They are said to include a provision that the status in the Bast shall remain as at present, and the renunciation of German claims in tho West. Austria will make concessions in the Trcntino to Italy, and an international conference will settle the Balkan questions. All the belligerents are to decide upon colonial questions, Africa, and, Asia Minor. Germany will abandon Kiaochau, but demands economic concessions in China. Associm t .on--Copyr ■,» ■ Australian and N.Z. Cable Association(Received May 7, 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 6. The State Department has received advices from London saying that Colyn, a former member of tho Dutch i Cabinet, is in London giving Germany’s peace terms. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 8, 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 6. Mr Balfour, in the House of Commons, denied that'the enemy had recently made peace offers. Ho added that no neutral representative in Britain had made a tentative or informal peace suggestion. The whole thing is a mare’s nest. THE POPE AND PEACE Published in "Tho Times." (Received' May 7, 7.10 p.m.) _ ■ . ROME, May 6. The Vatican denies the rumour of a Papal Whitsuntide peace move, adding that a favourable opportunity does not seem to be near. • GERMAN ESCAPEES RECAPTURED AT DEAL. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. „ LONDON, May 6. Two German naval prisoners of war who escaped from Lark Hill camp on iAp.ry > I*th; r were caught j at; Dealv while attempting torescap’e *im r a : snihir opeh' boat to Zeebrugge. The boat was well stocked with food. The men had been moing by day and tramping'by night for eighteen days. A BELATED STORY OF A GERMAN U-BOAT. v Tc*ip'o:rnph —l J rcss Association—Copyrijyhl Australian arid N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 7, 7.10 p.m.) „ LONDON, May 6. The story is published of U-boat 39, which sank tho steamers Ida Hanna Larson, and Sanskinch during February, 1917. Otto Ehrentraut, who was tho personal friend of Prince Henry of Prussia, commanded U 39. Princess Henry came to the pier at Kiel and wished the boat bon voyage., The submarine secured its three victims within thirtysix hours. Whon tho Ida stopped after tho first round was fired from the submarine, the latter continued firing A gunlayer asked Ehrentraut. whether he would cease firing. The captain said, “Carry on.” Twenty-five rounds wore fired.

A few hours later the submarine fired on another steamer. The fire mas immediately answered by a British destroyer. U 39 dived, but the depth of the charge shook hqr vitally. Water poured through the conning tower. The crew became panic-stricken and the submarine rose. The destroyer raked her fore and 1 aft. Ehrentrnut climbed out of the conning tower, and was preparing to surrender when a shell killed him. The submarine was still making speed on the surface, so the destroyer continued to firo. Three of the crew jumped overboard and were drowned. Three others were killed and several wounded. The destroyer bailed the submarine to stop, and this order was complied l with, so the fire ceased. Seventeen survivors were rescued, also two British prisoners.

THE U-30AT CAMPAIGN MEN ON' HUN SUBMARINES LOSE CONFIDENCE. By‘Telegraph-—Press Association— Co) - yr '? ni Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 7, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. A Dutch correspondent states that among submarine men there is now no sanguine fooling as to the result of the Gorman blockade. The men doing the wotk are not imbued with Admiral von Tirpitz’s confidence. The German public does not know the number of submarines Which fail to return. DISASTRBQS COLLISION THREE THOUSAND LIVES LOST. i.,v 0 cieurap T ‘— a Copyright Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received May 7. B.SO p.m.) „ nn . PEKIN, May 6. Over 3000 Chinese wore lost in a collision off Hankow when the steamer Kiang Kwan was sunk by the Chinese gunboat Chutai. The latter had on board the Premier Tuan, who was en route to visit the commander of the northern transports. The collision also wrecked the gunboat, which was beached.