The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-02-18
ITALY BACKS !. s..
| NOTE TO GERMANY
American Envoy Called to Front
| by Kaiser.
rEUToNs ARE UNMELOINe
Berlin Expected Objections to War
Zone Blockade and Admits Some
~ May Have Notwithstanding
..ssF to Ships Renewed.

Rome, Feb. 15.-The Italian govern
ment has sent a note to Berlin con-
corning Germany's war zone decree
and its menace to neutral shipping.
,rhe note, though different in tone.
thoroughly sustains the stand taken
by the American government.
Gerard to Confer With Kaiser.
London, Feb. 15.-The kaiser has
invited United States Ambassador
Gerard to visit him at headquarters
for q discussion of the American note.
according to an Exchange Telegram
dispatch frsm The Hague.
The French report that the three
ond meeting at Malmoe to discuss
Gernany's recent proclamation Of a
war zone Is declared untrue by the
Copenhagen Berlingske Tidende, which
states the only meeting to be held is
one of naval specialists In Christiania
to discuss the danger from mines.
says a wireless dispatch from Berlin.
New Warning to Shippers.
Berlin. via london, Feb. 15.--The
German foreign Office, after studying
the American note respecting the
declaration by Germany of war zone
In the waters around Great Britain
and ireland, states that the terms are
much friendlier than previously had
been expected by reasons OF the in
complete newspaper dispatches pub
lished here.
The foreign Office had not anticipat'
ed that the United States would &C.
cept the German position without OBJ
jections and 1t even recognizes that
from the American standpoint certain
of the points raised are quite justi-
fed.
Adheres to Own Viewpoint.
Germany, however, It is declared,
Intends to adhere to its own view
point.
Various officials, diplomatic. naval
and military, whose opinions have
been sought profess to see no elements
OF danger in the situation and ave
convinced that the naval campaign
can be conducted on the lines laid
down in the admiralty proclamation
without involving difficulties between
the United States and Germany.
New Warning Given.
The Hague, via London Feb. l5.-
The German legation has again
warned neutral vessels against enter
ing the war area around the British
Isles as defined by the German admir-
atty, and to the original note adds the
following:
Since Germany. following the ex-
ample OF Great Britain, declared as a
war zone on and after February IS
English and Irish waters. the British
have declared all the ports Of England
war ports and have justified the use
Of neutral flags on merchant vessels.
Merchant Ships Arm.
Moreover. according to reliable
source, a great number OF British
merchantmen have been armed In or
der to destroy German submarines by
shells or by ramming them. Thereby
these ships lose their character as
merchant ships and become war yes
sells.
Germany, therefore, is again
obliged urgently to warn all neutral
ships against entering English coast
waters after February 18, as from
that date the German admiralty will
prosecute the war with all means at
its disposal against British war ports
and British armed merchant ships.
av- Danger to Neutrsls.
Neutral vessels which are then
within the war zone will run the same
risks as IL they pursued a course
through sea battles between England
and Germany, of which the date and
place could not have been made
lsnown, and will bring risks upon
themselves for which Germany can
not take the responsibility.
THE route around the north OF
Scotland, owing to the depth OF the
waters, cannot be endangered by
mines There, as we'll as in the waters
OF the North sea, with the exception
OF British waters and German bay.
neutral shipping will not be endang-
cred by the measures the German
admiralty Is adopting"