Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-17
GERMANY ADMITS
nation Is HUNGRY
OFFICIAL STATEMENT GIVES
FOOD SHORTAGE AS REASON
FOR BLOCKADE.
CONFIDENT OF PLACING
FOE IN PREDIcAMENr
Blockade Of British Isles Necessary
RetaIiatory Measure, According to
Berlin View-German Admiral sus-
sests Conveys For Merchantmen
Flying United States Flag.

Berlin, by wireless TO Sayville, l., L.,
Feb. 17.-Admiral Behncke, of the ma
rine department has made statement
TO Lieutenant Comma nder Walter r.
Gherardi, naval attache of the Ameri-
can embassy at Berlin. which Is given
out officially as the best exposition Of
the situation with respect to Ger
many's declaration of the waters
around the British Isles as a war
zone. Admiral Behncke's statement
follows:
Up to the present time Germany
IN the war at sea has followed the
London declaration or the stipulations
OF the Paris treaty, on which the con-
duct OF war on the sea had been
based before the London declaration.
In waging this commercial war
fare England had in view the sub
Jusation Of Germany by starvati N.
Gel many had in every way sought to
bring the attention OF tho reutral
powers and all others to the Necessity
she was under to obtain food for her
civilian population, which was he-
right under the laws Of war. No re-
suits could be obtained from her e.
forts
Since the shutting off Of bod sup
pies had now come to a point where
Germany had no longer sufficient food
to feed her people, it became necessary
Tor her to bring England to ems by
the exercise Of force. Germany knows
mat by the use Of the submarine Eng
land can be placed in q position where
wi hn Ia,
submarine force with which 10 do it:
her life as nation and the lives Of her
people depend upon putting this cam
paign into action and she must do So
The difficulties lying In the way
or this campaign has been largely
connected with the care which 1t Is
desired to give to neutral ships and
to the lives Of those on board all COM
mercial ships whether neutral or be-
longing to the enemy.
"First-In arming her merchant
ships with guns for self defense Eng
land adopted a policy against which
Germans strongly protest. The United
States took the British point Of
view. 1t IL not possible for sub
marines to approach British mer-
chant ships and make examinations
without exposing themselves to gun
IRE or bomb attack against which a
submarine boat will be helpless.
"Second-England has advised iler
merchant fleet to fly neutral flags, to
cover up names and change stocks,
to escape the consequences Of their
nationality. This plan was designed
to bring Germany into conflict with
other nations
Germany does not wish in the
slightest degree to harm American or
other neutral ships, or their cargoes,
unless carrying contraband of war.
She is. however, in a position where
her life depends upon her putting
into effect the only means she has of
saving herself. She must and will use
this means.
Commanding officers Of submarine
boats have been given orders to make
every effort to Safeguard neutrals.
In spite Of the precautions which sub
marines could take-without the dam
ger OF being destroyed themselves
the possibility was noted that neutral
ships might thru accident be DESTROYED.
For this reason strong warning was
issued.
In spite OF the great effect the adj
miralty feels that the use Of the sub
will have in bringing the war
to a rapid close. the admiralty does not |
wish to put 1t into effect, to the de- |
triment OF neutral commerce and the |
rights of nations on the high seas |
They have therefore stated that If
Great Britain will abide by the Dec |
laratlon OF London, without modihca-
tons. or by the Treaty OF Paris, where
by food supplies for civilians can be
freely brough into Germany the whole |
matter of submarine blockade
will be dropped by Germany.
This proposal has been transmit
ted thru diplomatic channels. II ac-
,epted the matter will be no longer
one Of provocation to the United States
and Germany"
Admiral Behncke then said that |