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Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 883, 8 December 1916, Page 6

A report from Amsterdam contains the warning that Germany intends to institute a ruthless submarine campaign on January 1. Neutrals, it is added, are being invited by Germany, who, by the way, is strong "for the freedom of the seas" policy, to announce the concessions they are ready to make in order to obtain comparative immunity from attack. If the report is founded on fact, it would be interesting to know what the Germans consider a "ruthless" submarine campaign. One would have thought (hat the indiscriminate sinking of passenger ships and hospital transports, and neutral merchantmen, came within the category of ruthlessncss. As a matter of fact Germany's submarines are doing their worst now, or very nearly so. Of late, the sinking of British and neutral vessels has shown a marked increase, and in five days half a hundred ships were sent to the bottom. Among the neutrals, particular attention is paid by the German submarines to Norway, primarily because Norway is pro-ally in its sentiments and sympathies. The losses inflicted on the Norwegian mercantile licet have detrimentally affected to a serious degree the shipping interests of that country. So much so that American and Japanese yards are busy building new tonnage for Norway. If there is anything in the Amsterdam message it suggests that Germany who only recently narrowly escaped grave diplomatic trouble with Norway, is anxious to try and win that nation over to her side. Sweden is pronouncedly pro- | German, and if her neighbour could : be induced to change round, it would 'assist to relieve Germany's anxieties in the matter of foodstufis.