Evening star., 1915-02-16

XII lERDAM, via London,
February I6, I2:4S p.m.-A dis
patch to the Rotterdam Courant
from Berlin says the German gov
ernment will today dispatch to
Washington its reply to the
American note on the subject of
American shipping in the declared
war. zone in British waters.
Dutch Shippers Warned.
The chamber Of 5comn,erce here has 70
ceived communication from the German
consul reproducing note from Chancel-
lor Won Bethmann-Hollweg. in which he
says:
In most cases German submarines will
be unable to distinguish between neutral
and British vessels when encountered in
tn, war zone. All merchantmen. there
fore, run the risk of destruction. In order
to avoid losses, it is urgently necessary
for neutral ships to keep away from the
war zone Germany can no longer regard
the British merchant fleet as unarmed or
entitled to warning before attack. because
merchantmen are equipped with guns. and
large reward has been offered to the
first merchant vessel which sinks a Ger
man submarine.
Germany will pursue the war in the
manner announced until Great Britain
acknowledges the rules Of naval warfare
as fixed by the Paris and London declara-
tions, or until the neutral powers force
this acknowledgment from England"
Fear a British Outrage.
BERLIN, February Is, by wireless to
London, 11:30 a.m.-An official state
ment reading as follows was issued
in Berlin today:
"Insomuch as it is to the interest OF
Great Britain that conflicts arise be-
tween Germany and neutral powers, iC
is thou 1t in Gernln shipping circles
that English submarines, in order to
bril- about this end. may purposely
sink one or more neutral ships. 1t is
known also in the shipping circles that
Great Britain has laid large quantities
of mines against German marines.
\ The Cologne Gazette, .nmentins to-
day on the diplomatic situation which
has arisen out of Germany's decIara-
ton of a marine war zone around Eng
land, says hat the American note to
Great Britain contains a demand the
granting of which would at once re-
move or reduce to small proportions
all dan. IT of American shippin
If Great Britain abandoned the use OF
the Stars and Stripes few ships would
carry this banner into the war zone
waters. To recognize a ship as Ameri- -
can would be equivalent to knowing
her a. neutral
The Cologne Volks Zeitung says Ger
many must wait patiently and show
that February is will be a day of bitter
earnest
Neutral Losses Fairly Certain"
The commencement of operations in
the waters designated by the German
as war zone is waited
here with the greatest eagerness as
we'll as much curiosity. 1t appears
likely, however. that it will be some
laws after February IS before any
news is received. Indeed. the Ger
ma mia in an article which is reprinted
nv the Nord Deutsche Allgemeine
says IL may De Ten OF HIteeh
laws before the public is informed on
he subject 1t warns its readers not
% place credence in rumors. but rather
% wait for official reports, which will
,e based on reports from commanders
If submarines.
The Germania considers the possible
~ that neutral ships will be destroy
"A as .fairly certain" but declares that
,hey have had proper warning.
Note "Friendly But Firm"
..1be German reply to the American
ote is reported to be firm in tone.
houeh friendly In FORM" says a state
oent issued by the Overseas News
agency.
The Lokal Anzeiger today published
N interview with James w. Gerard.
he American ambassador to Germany
,hich reads as follows:
" regard the relations today between
ur two countries calmly and with
onhdence. and I believe pending ques-