Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-18
Berlin Suggests Warships
TO Convoy American
Merchant Vessels
BUT WAR ZONE STANDS
England Refuses to Distinguish
Between Food for Civil
ianS and Army.

Wurluvron. p. c. Feb. 1s-sec-
refar argau sent earIy 90 the White
ra... t.- % conference with the p-esi-
ear. T1rF discussed the neutral
Shipping situation. the British note.
BelUaEet ttiE uoruiug and an un-
ofriEl outline Of Germany note.
Tta oHcai view was that no element
i1 Fe- situation was critical
Ea0 York. Feb. 1S-swig British
ana French desJruycrs VIII NEE: all
rsrerte1ed steamships fgiue flags OF
t.e allies and escort them into port.
according 70 cabicErams received by
Steamship c4mpluies today
LlHlgu. FEB. 1s-Tue immat tate
eject of fle German submarine block
All. beginning today was 90 r.e up all
parseuser traffic from England t0 Hol-
land scandinavian iner however
la.. not vet been affected Freight
ard mau traffic % Holland coutln-
rae
Berlin. FEB. 1s.-The reply OF Ger
many 90 the protest Of tho United
States against the blockade OF Brit
st waters o. couched in the most
'r.e1dlv terms. but firmly maintains
a. position OF Germany as already an
1eruced.
The answer. a Ieurshy document.
converted into code at the United
states embassy. has been transmitted
r flI 90 Washington. The note exc
plains Germauy's proposed ac-iOn IS
necessary by Great Br.taiu-s policy o.
attempting % cut Of the food supply
tCr German civil population by a
method never recognized In iuterna-
rCraT law England course in order
irE merchantmen to hy neutral flags.
sgulrpIur them with artillery with or
derH 90 destroy submarines. the Ger
man reply contends. renders nuEatory
the rElt 90 search. thus giving Ger
many the right 90 attack English ship
ping Germany holds she cannot aban-
don that right under the stress which
England has forced upon her
Recommends warshlp Conveys.
The note recommends that the
rnreL states send warships TO Eng
land f1 convoy merchant vessels
tlrDlrl the danger zone as security
against attack. with the understand
.nE "a vessels thus guarded shall
carr no supplies Hope is expressed
That fHs American government viii
unte-staud the position Ia which Ger
many has been placed and appreciate
tae reasons for its course. The reply /
closes with an expression OF hope that /
Tire United States may prevail upon .
Great Britain Ito return 90 the priu- I
cD'as OF International law recognized !
p-r- t1 Tho outbreak Of the var and .
.r particular obtain Observance % the ]
London declaration by bellieerents op- .
posed -1 Germany. ~ this 81 done. I
fl@ r1ts explains. Germany will be- /
enabled ,J import food supplies and /
raV uatcr.alH
Desires Full Understanding.
Tire reply. after expressing good |
VII. aE1 friendship. says /
~rrs German government believes n 1
BOY an t1r more reckon Cu full uu-
dsrstarIiuE with the United states as
tte procedure announced by the Ger
ma1 admiralty IL 10 no way directed
azt.nst legitimate commerce and the
Estimate shipping % Heutrais. bot
reprgssGts solely a MEASURE of sell
tefeuss Urtu now Germany has OBJ
served valid international rules regard
RS naval warfare. even when theF
stse been diamctricaIly opposed 20
Per Military Interests.
Germany - as good as cut on from
Der over seas supply By the silent or
protesting liberation % ueuirals- not
oay in regard 20 such goods a. are
absolute contraband. but also In regard
'o such as according 20 acknowledges I
law before the war. are only condi-
ticusl coutraband or not contrahand
a. all Great Britain. on the other