The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-02-18
TO USE Hines IN
War on SHIPPING
BELIEVES W.afA2E IS RIGHT

Katser's Government Stands Fir-l In
lis Position Of Claiming Privilege
to Sink Any or 81 Ships Its Sub
marines HAY Come UPoa In War
Zone Around English i5'os-5.ash-
inston Sends Note TO England.
Washington, Feb. 16.-Germany has
sent a note TO the state department
in Washington in response to tho Amer
lean protest against the German es-
tablishment OF d war zone. The con
tents Of the note are not made public,
but Count Won BernstorH has issued a
statement believed TO reflect il lull
his country's attitude.
His government insists upon the
continuance OF the war zone but it is
stated that if there is no attempt to
cut off Germany's imports Of food in
neutral bottoms she may decide that
the war zone is not necessary.
This statement by the German en-
bassy, while in the form OF a simple
announcement, was in reality a para
phrase if not an exact translation of
the note which was handed to the
state department. The mere state
ment by the embassy without any
reference to the delivery of the note
was, OF course, simply the observing
of diplomatic prophecies, inasmUch as
the state department itself did not
make the note public.
In this statement from the German
embassy also is conveyed the first
intimation as to Germany's reply to
the inquiry of the United States as to
what is to be done to protect neutral
shipping. The suggestion is made that
neutrals might sail in daylight under
convoy of their own warships.
Germany frankly reiterates that
under any other circumstances the
safety Of neutral shipping in the war
zone around the British isles Will be
seriously threatened" Germany adds
a warning of additional danger from
mines, declaring that they will be laid
in the new war zone to a very con-
siderable extent.
Equal in importance to the receipt
OF the new German note was action
taken by the state department in the
Wilheimina case. Secretary Bryan
forwarded 10 Ambassador Page at Lon
don by cable the text of the German
note and the one laid before the state
department on Saturday with certain
representations made by the owners
of the Wilhelmina to the state depart
ment. These communications are to
be laid before the British foreign Of
fee. The effect of this action will be
a plain intimation to Great Britain
thai the United States believes, upon
the evidence at its disposal, That The
Wilhelmina's cargo of food, which was
consigned to Bremen, ought to be re
leased and the vessel permitted to
continue her voyage.
The communications which the
United States has laid before Great
Britain contain the assurances that if
England will reverse her policy of
nOlulnS up shipments OF IOOuStuIS
consigned to noncombatants in Ger
many the latter government will modi-
fly her war zone decree.
That Italy has followed the lead OF
the United States in presenting TO
Germany its disapproval with the war
szone decree was confirmed at the
italian embassy. 1t was stated that
Che protest of the Italian government
had been a verbal one, submitted at
Rome to the German ambassador.
In submitting the German note to
Secretary Bryan Count Bernstorff ex-
piained that It was not intended as a
formal reply to the American protest
against the German war zone decree.
AS matter OF fact the note had been
submitted TO all neutral powers whose
shipping might be affected by Ger.
many's action. Nevertheless the note
clearly indicated the general course
that Germany will pursue in making
its formal reply to the United States.