The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-17
GERMANS Fight
FOR VERY lives
Admiral Behncke Gives Their
Reasons for Recent War
Zone Order.
WILL PROTECT NEUTRALS
Suggests U. S. Navy Could Have Con-
voys Near Ireland to Take Merchant
Ships Through Channel.

Berlin. Feb. 15.-Admiral Behncke, in
an interview today with Comma nder
Gherardi. the American naval attache.
explained the reasons animating Ger
| many in declaring a war zone around
England. Admiral Behncke's review OF
the situation is the most lucid and au-
| thoritative Yet expressed. He said:
up to the present time Germany. in
her operations at sea. has followed the
| lines laid down in the London declara-
ton. or. where this declaration did not
cover the case. she has observed the
| stipulations Of the Paris treaty, on which
the conduct of war had been based be-
| fore the London declaration.
Germany Must Execute Order.
In waging this war on commerce Eng
| land has had in view the subjugation of
Germany by the starvation Of her sub
5ects. Germany has. in every way,
sought to call the attention of neutral
powers and all others to the necessity
she was under of obtaining food for her
civilian population. This was her right
under the laws of war. No results had
been obtained from her efforts.
'Since the shutting off of food supplies
has now come to a point where Germany
has no longer sufficient food to feed her
people it has become necessary for her to
bring England to terms by the exercise
| of force.
| Germany knows that by the use OF
submarines England can be placed In
position where she will find that food
will be lacking there. Germany has the
submarine forces to accomplish this end.
| Germany's life as a nation, and the lives
of her people. depend upon putting this
campaign into action and must do it.
THE difficulties lying in the way OF
this campaign have been largely connect
| ed with the consideration which II is de-
| sired to show for neutral ships and for
the lives on board of all ships, whether
neutral or enemy.
by arming her merchant ships with
| guns for self defense. England has adopt
ed and put into force a policy against
| which the Germans have protested
| British point of view.
Germany does not wish in the slight
est degree to harm American or other
| neutral ships or their Cargoes.
SuxEests Safe Method Of Voyage.
THE commanding officers Of submarine
| boats have been given orders to make
every effort to safeguard neutrals.
| 1T may be added that the British coast
is mined by the British themselves for
protective purposes, and also will be
mined by the Germans as an act of Of
| fensive warfare. All ships therefore, are
| in danger from Mines
Admiral Behncke stated that Germany
was prepared to suggest TO the United
States an even freer and safer method
OF passage for American ships bound
either through the English Channel or
to English ports. namely. that several
! American warships should wait in some
port on the southwest coast of ireland
| and. when communicated with by wire
| less by American ships. one OF the war
| ships could then go out and convoy the
American ship through that portion of
the sea which Germany, following the
example of England, has declared to be
dangerous"