THE SUBMARINE MENACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16433, 12 July 1915, Page 5

THE SUBMARINE MENACE

LONDON, July 9. A submarine sank the steamer Guide, bound from Hull to Archangel. The crew wore landed at Peterhead.

A Russian steamer, the Anna, from Archangel to Hull, was also torpedoed. Her crew were landed at Peterhead. The Anna is reported to be still afloat.

A submarine sank the Russian barque Marion Lightbody, from Valparaiso to England, off Queenstown, where the crew landed.

ANOTHER VICTIM. LONDON, July 10. (Received July 11, at 3.20 p.m.) A submarine sank the steamer Erlesmfe near The Smalls. One man was killed and the remainder were landed.

THE SECOND NOTE.

AMERICA STILL "DIPLOMATIC."

WASHINGTON, July 9. It is understood that Germany's latest reply refuses the American request for an alteration in the methods of submarine warfare.

It is probable that the United States will despatch a further Note, insisting on the principle that the Germans must visit and search unarmed vessels, and warning Germany against future violations, on threat of a diplomatic rupture. The High C'«runjssioner reports as follows under date London, July 10 (6.20 a.m.): —

The text of the German Note to America has been issued. Germany, amid protestations of friendship to the United States, says that she was forced to adopt submarine warfare owing to the methods of her adversaries. German submarines would be instructed to permit the passage of American steamers when the steamers are made recognisable by special marking, and the Government is notified a reasonable tome in advance. The Note asks America to guarantee that such vessels will not carry contraband. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. UNCTUOUS HUMBUG. LONDON, July 10. (Received July 11, at 3.30 p.m.) The Evening Standard severely comments upon Germany's unctuous humbug. GERMANY'S REPLY. "WAR WITHOUT MERCY." THE LUSITANIA. STIFLING OF GERMAN TRADE. BERLIN, July 10. (Received July 11, at 3.30 p.m.) The reply to the second American Note has been issued. It notes that the United States desires the principles of humanity to be observed in the present war. This appeal finds a complete echo in Germany, which has always adhered to the principle that war must be waged by armed organised forces and the enemy's civil population spared as much as possible. The American Government knows how Germany's enemies from the beginning aimed with unceasing ruthlessness not only at the destruction of Germany's armies but at the life of the German nation by renouncing all the rules of international law and completely paralysing peaceful commerce between Germany and neutral countries. " While our enemies openly declared war without mercy till our complete destruction was effected, waging a war of defence for our national existence and for the sake of a permanent guaranteed peace we were obliged to adopt submarine warfare. The case of the Lusitania shows with appalling clearness the extent to which our enemies' methods of warfare endanger human life. The advice to British merchantmen to arm themselves and ram our submarines abolishes all distinction between merchant vessels and war vessels. If the commander of the submarine had allowed the crew and passengers time to take to the boats before firing the submarine would certainly have been sunk. It was expected that the Lusitania would have remained afloat long enough to allow the passengers to take to the boats, but the presence of a great quantity of explosives on board deceived those expectations. Moreover, if the Lusitania had been spared, thousands of cases of ammunition would have reached the enemy, and thus thousands of German mothers and children would harc-e been deprived of their supporters." In order to secure sufficient transAtlantic steamers Germany proposes that a fair number of neutral steamers should be temporarily registered under the American flag to carry on a passenger service. If there were an insufficiency of neutral steamers Germany is willing to allow four enemy passenger steamers to sail under the American flag. Germany hopes that President Wilson's effort to secure the freedom of the sea will lead to an understanding.

HANDED TO AMBASSADOR. AMSTERDAM, July 10. (Received July 11, at 3.20 p.m.) The German reply to America's Note was handed to Mr Gerard yesterday.

WHY THE NOTE WAS PUBLISHED. BERLIN, July 10. (Received July 11, at 3.20 p.m.) The reply to the American Note was published in order to avoid the endangering of American passenger steamers. German submarines will be instructed to allow • vessels to pass unmolested if they ,bear special distinguishing marks and notice is given of their departure. The German Government confidently hopes that America will guarantee that the vessels will not carry contraband. AMERICAN VIEWS. THE PRESS CHAGRINED. WASHINGTON, July 10. (Received July 11, at 3.20 p.m.) The German Note has evaded the Lusitania issue, and refuses any guarantees regarding submarine warfare. The American press is chagrined, and urges that the proper course for President Wilson now is to assert American rights as established by international law. The State Department admits that Germany* expression of the hope that the United States will guarantee that no contraband will be on board ships carrying passengers implies that Germany, lacking such a guarantee, will continue to sink steamers irrespective of their nationality. TRAPPED. TEUTONS STUPEFIED AND SURRENDER. ROME, July 10. (Received July 11, at 3 p.m.) The Giornale d'ltalia states that an Italian warshin caught a steamer be. longing to a neutral Balkan country. It was laden with benzine and naphtha, and the captain confessed that he was waiting to deliver his car*o to a German submarine. The Italian commander manned the steamer with some of his own bluejackets disguised as merchantmen, and armed the shin with machine guns. At the appointed hour the periscope of the submarine emerged. Greetings were exchanged, and then the commandcr of the steamer stepped forward and cried : " Take your choice between surrender or being sent to the bottom." The Teutons were stupefied and surrendered, and the submarine was towed into an Italian port. It is reported that the Italians have destroyed three Austrian submarines in the first month of their war.

THE WEEKLY RETURN. LONDON, July ii. (Received July 11, at midnight.) The Norwegian steamer Noordas, bound from Bergen to Archangel, was torpedoed. The crew landed at Aberdeen. For the week ending the 7th inst. the arrivals and departures from all ports were 1369. Ten vessels were submarined, aggregating 31,056 tons.