The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-27
PROPOSES SAFETY MEASURES,
UNITED STATES OFFERS SUG-
f GESTIONS TO BELLIGERENTS.
would Have Steps Taken to Safe
guard Commerce of NeutraIs i'm
War Zone, SO That Shipping Would
Not DC DisOrganiZed.

Washington, Feb. 23.-Proposals
have been made informally by the
United States to both Great Britain
and Germany suggesting a basis for
an understanding on the subjects Of
foodstuffs for the civilian population
OF belligerents and submarine war
fare against merchant ships. These
proposals have been guarded with the
utmost secrecy and officials have not
revealed their nature because Of the
delicacy Of the negotiation.
Coincident with the revelation to-
night that a new move had been made
by the Washington government came
dispatches telling of the blowing up of
aTsecond American vessel, the steam
ship Carib, near the German coast, Gil
incident which increased anxiety on
the part Of officials for an early un-
derstanding with the belligerents.
The wreck of the first vessel, the
hvelyn, was viewed by President Will
zon as tragic accident due to possible
failure of the captain to heed the
German admiraltys instructions re-
spectng the location Of mine fields.
Officials tonight believed the Carib
disaster was Of similar nature,
though they had no official advices.
. Proposals made to the belligerents,
1T is known, are Of far-reaching inn
portance. They We're embodied in con-
.fidential memorandum which both
Ambassadors Page and Gerard were
instructed to take up informally with
tile respective foreign Offices at Lon
don and Berlin. The new communi-
cations are not replies to the notes of
Germany and Great Britain, though
they relate to the same subject. They
constitute what is described in di-
plomacy as informal inquiries" and
Frequently. if accepted, become form
fal.r ....
NJ The belief most commonly held was
that the United StS Sses fStil ~ sposeA,
some from of supervision over the dis
tribution of foodstuffs to the civilian
population Of Germany, either by
American consul agents or American
organization.
Germany has offered to abandon
her submarine warfare if assured that
ships laden with foodstuffs for Ger
many will not be interrupted.
President Wilson discussed with the
cabinet the situation produced by the
declaration Of the war zone and it was
said the replies from England and
Germany to the informal representa-
tlons would have considera Bile bear
ing on the final course of the Ameri-
can government.
Earlier in the day the president in
dicated that he had not decided
whether the notes received from Ger
many and Great Britain on the sen
war zones and the use of neutral flags
required rejoinders.
Officials tonight spoke guarded!y
but with no concealment of their ap-
prehensiOns over the situation which
might develop if American lives were
lost as result Of a subma rine attack
The Carib was the second ship in
sured by the government war risk in
surance bureau. There was $235, 900
on her cargo and S22,253 on her hull.
With loss on the Evelyn, the bureau
probably will have to pay q total Of
s659,0OO, which about equals the sum
collected to date in premiums.
Undoubtedly both cases will be the
subject Of civil suits for damages bv
the bureau.