, 1915-02-20

II dtSPatcn 20 Lfoyds from h, camp, France,
states that the British steamer '.Dulwich"
from Hull for Rouen, was blown up 25 miles
OFT Cape Antifer by two successive explosions.
seven OF the crew who arrived at Fecamp
reported that all the crew could have
escaped in the lifeboats. The "Dulwich"
was owned by the Britain Steamship Co.
The British Steamer "Wavelet" reported
on 10th to have been damaged by com
ing in contact with a mine and subsequent
ly beached at Deal has upon examination been
found to have sustained extensive damage.
A p5ize crew of nineteen has been put on
board the "Wihelmiua."
The Scandinavian Insurance Companies
require that the flags and names Of countries
be painted on all vessels.
Dispatches from Berlin state that Admiral
Behncke of the Marine Departments, in q
statement to Captain GLernldi, the naval
Attach6 Of the United States Embassy,
gave the following official exposition Of the
situation: Firstly, III arming her merchant
ships England adopted a policy against
which Germans protested, but The United
States took the British view. 1t was impos-
slbie for submarines to approach British
merchant ships, to make examination with
out exposing themselves to gunfre and bomb
attacks, against which the submarine was
helpless. Secondly, England advised her
merchant fleet to fly neutral flags, to cover
their names and to change their tunnels, in
order to escape the Consequences of their
nationality, and this was designed to bring
Germany into conflict with other nations.
Germany bad no wish to harm neutral
ships or cargoes unless carrying coutrabnnd.
but her life depends upon putting into ef-
feet the only means she had of saving her
self SInp9 Tho avpfI1CiDp 90 Fo11 Jol o.,. 4
a point where she had no longer sufficient
food to feed her people, and it became ne
cessary 10 bring England to terms by force.
Germany knew that by the use of the sub
marine England could be placed in a position
where food would be lacking, and she had
the submarine force with which to do it.
Her life as Il nation and the lives of her
people depended upon putting this campaign
into action.
Despite however the great effect which the
Admiralty Staff felt the submarine would
have IN bringing the war to a rapid close,
the Admiralty, out of regard for neutral com
merce and the rights of nations on the high
seas, had stated that if Great Britain would
abide by the Declaration of London with
out any notifications, or to the Treaty of
Paris whereby food supplies necessary for
the civil population could be freely brought
into Germany, the submarine blockade would
be dropped by Germany. This proposal had
been transmitted through diplomatic chan
nels and if accepted the matter would no
longer be one provocative of trouble between
the United States and Germany. Germany
suggests to the United States On even freer
and safer method for the passage of Ameri-
can ships to British ports, namely that Amer
lean war ships should wait on the south west
coast of Ireland and when communicated
with by wireless by American merchantmen,
one of them should convoy the merchantmen,
without German search, through that portion
of the sea which Germany, following the
example of Great Britain has declared to be
dangerous.