THE GERMAN NOTE TO UNITED STATES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14213, 2 February 1917, Page 3

THE GERMAN NOTE TO UNITED STATES.

PORT OF NEW YORK TEMPORARILY CLOSED. AMERICAN* PRESS URGES DECLARATION' OF WAR. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Association.) NEW YORK, Feb. 1. The port of Naw Yoi'k has been temporarily closed against outgoing vessels under instructions of the Port Collector, ! and a torpedo boat turned back several ships. The guai'ds on interned ships have been doubled. Colonel House, President Wilson's confidential adviser, is hurrying to Washington. Newspaper . opinion throughout the country, excepting the pro-German organs, is most unanimous m favor of an immediate and vigorous reply. Many papers advocate breaking off relations, and some declare that the Ger- „ man Note is a direct challenge, which should be accepted within 24 Hours. One paper says the Arkansas troops are at President Wilson's disposal. The New York World says : "The Note is m effect a declaration of war against the United States, and there can only bo one answer to that. This ansiver should be made to-day. Count Bernslorff must receive his, passports forthwith and diplomatic relations must cease immediately. If this means actual war with Germany, so' be it." The memorandum annexed to the Note points out that neutral _ ships will enter the barred zones at their own risk alter February 1. The zones are defined as follows : —in. the North Sea, the district around England and France, which is limited by a line of twenty sea miles; the dfistriot around the Dutch coast to the Tershellinflr fire-ship, the degree of longitude from the Terschelling fire-ship to the Undir line, thence across to a point sixty-two degrees north, and five degrees longitude to sixty-two degrees north-west, thence acros* to a point sixty-two degrees north and 'blank degrees west, to sixty-one degrees north, fifteen degrees west, thence fifty-seven degrees north and twenty degrees west until forty-seven degrees north, and fifteen degrees w«st, then on a degree of latitude forty-three degrees north along until twenty sea miles from Cape Finisterre, and then at, twenty sea miles along the Spanish coast until the French frontier is reached. A week's grace will be allowed ships already en route. WASHINGTON, Feb. 1. Informal comment at the German Embassy indicates that Germany intends to revoike the Sussex pledges and endeavor to starve England. , A preliminary reading of the German Note by officials, followed by expressions of opinion, giave an, impression that the resulting sit.ud.tion i« viewed with extreme gravity. Prompt action is expected.