El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-17
ADMIRAL GIVES
GERMAN VIEWS
Tells American Attache Rea.
sons for Germany's Com
mercial War Program.

LlO4 C4o1 w oJI lug DILL
Berlin, Germany. Feb. 17.-What is
/ considered the best possible exposition
Of Gormany's reasons for declaring
: commercial warfare against England
and placing a blockade around the
British isles is contained il. a state
ment made by admiral Behncke Of the
marine department to Lieut.. Com.
[ Walter r. Gherardf, naval attache of
the American embassy here, and the
statement as a result. has been made
public officially.
1t follows:
In waging this commercial warfare,
England had in view the subjUgation
Of Germany by starvation. Germany
had in every way sought to bring the
attention Of the neutral powers and all
others to the necessity she was under
tlon' which was her right, under the
laws OF war. No results could be OBJ
tanned from her efforts
since the shutting off Of food sup
plies had now come to a point where
Germany had no longer sufficient food
TO feed her people, it became necessary
for her to bring England to terms by
the exercise of force. Germany knows
that by the use of the submarine Eng
land can be placed in a position where
food will be lacking. She has the sub
marine force with which to do it; her
life as a nation and the lives of her
people depend upon putting this cam
paign into action and she must do so.
In waEing this commercial warfare,
England had in view the subjugatiOn
Of Germany by starvation. Germany
had in every way sought to bring the
attention OF the neutral powers and all
Others to lie Gecessity she was under
to obtain food for her civilian pom sIia-
ton, which was her right. under tho
laws of war. No results could be OBJ
tanned from her efforts
Since the shutting off OF food sup
Plies had now come to point where
Germany had no longer sufficient food
to feed her people, it became necessary
for her TO bring England to terms by
the exercise of force. Germany knows
that by the use of the submarine Eng
land can be placed in a position where
food Will be lacking. She has subma-
rine force with which to do it; her life
as nation and the lives of her people
depend upon putting this campaign into
action and she must do so.
Can't Examine Armed ships
t1rst-In armtng her merchant ships
with guns for self defence England
adopted a policy against which Ger
mans strongly protest. The United
States took the British point Of view.
1t is not possible for submarines to ap-
proach British merchant ships and
make examinations without exposing
themselves to guufire or bomb attack,
against which submarine boat viii be
helpless.
acknowledgement has advised her
merchant fleet TO fly neutral flags, to
cover up names and change stacks, to
escape the consequences of their nation
atty This plan was designed to bring
Germany into conflict with other ma
tions.
Must Fight for Life.
germany does not wish in the slight
est degree to harm American or other
neutral ships or their cargoes, unless
carrying contraband Of war. She is,
however, in position where her life
depends upon her putting into effect
the only means she has of saving her
self She must and win use this means.
Commanding officers of submarine
boats have been given orders to make
every effort to safeguard neutrals In
spite Of the precautions which subma-
rines could take-without the danger
of being destroyed themselves-the pos
SIbll1ty was noted that neutral ships
might through error or accident be de-
stroyed- For this reason a strong warn
ing was issued.
British Coast Mined.
In addition, the English coast has
been mined by the British themselves
Ior protective reasons and would be
mined by the Germans as an act of Of
IcnsIve warfare. Ships were therefore
IN danger from mines.
IN spite Of the great effect the ad-
miralty feel the use of the sub
marines will have in bringing the
was 10 a rapid close the admiralty
do not wish to put it into eff
1ect to the detriment Of neutral com
merce on the high seas Thev have.
therefore stated that If Great Britain
VIII aplue by the declaration of Lon
don without notifications. or bv the
treaty Of Paris whereby food supplies
necessary for the civil population can
be freely brought into Germany, the
, WI9l e matter Of submarine blockade
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