SUBMARNIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16873, 9 December 1916, Page 9

SUBMARNIES

MORE NEUTRAL VICTIMS,

Australian and N.Z Cable Association LONDON, December 7.

The Danish steamer Nexos and the Spanish steamer Julian Benito have been sunk by submarines'. A Swedish sailing vessel was set afire by a German submarine in the North Sea, but her crew were rescued.

GERMANY'S THREAT.

A MORE RUTHLESS CAMPAIGN.

AMSTERDAM, December 7.

Reliably informed Germans state that Germany intends to begin a most ruthless submarine campaign from January _1. She has already intimated this intention to neutral Governments, inviting them to make concessions to Germany in order to obtain comparative immunity for their vessels.

ARMING OF MERCHANTMEN, The Times.

LONDON, December 7.

Anti-war risks were effected on Wednesday on two British steamers subject to a warranty of their arming.

THE ARABIA CASE.

GERMANY'S ALLEGATIONS.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, December 7.

Germany's reply to the American Note regarding the Milking of the Arabia has been issued. It gives some extrordinary reasons for the act, alleging that the U boat's commander mistook her for a transport because she was not painted a light colour, like other P. and 0. steamers, and was not travelling by the regular route, and several similar steamers were passed by the submarine on the same unusual course. Many Cuinese and other coloured persons were visible aboard the 'Arabia, corresponding to "workmen and soldiers," The captain of the submarine did not see any women and children, therefore he concluded that the Arabia was a transport, and he attacked her without delay.

ANOTHER "REGRETTABLE

MISTAKE."

WASHINGTON, December 8.

(Received Dec. 8, at 11.45 p.m.) Commenting upon a portion of the Arabia Note, wherein it is stated that if it is proved that it was an ordinary passenger steamer it would be a regrettable mistake, the United States officials point out that at the time of the Sussex wise America stipulated that there must be no more regrettable mistakes. The officials do not consider that the Note makes out a strong case for Geimany.

DECREASE OF SHIPPING.

A GRAVE PROBLEM

The Times. LONDON, December 7. (Received Dec. 8, at 6.50 p.m.)

The incoming shipping for November, including that from the dominions and neutrals, shows a decrease pf 1,385,625 tons, as- compared with the previous November. The tonnage for the 11 months decreased by 3,000,000 to 4,000,000k and by 12.250.000 as compared with 1914.

A City editor comments that these figures strikingly reveal the gravity of the shipping problem.

SWEDISH TRAFFIC INTERRUPTED

MINING GULF OF BOTHNIA.

LONDON, December 8. (Received Dec. 8, at 10.55 p.m.) German submarines have again interrupted the traiTic between Finland and Sweden, and are lavishly mining the Gulf of Bot*hnia.