The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-03-05
GERMANY MAY
SEARCH SHIPS
Reported in Berlin Kaiser viii
Modify War Zone Rule.
TO SINK ONLY FOES BOATS
Government Officials Indicate Subn1a-
rInes VIII Proceed Only Against
vesseis Carrying Contraband
Owned by Allies.

London, March "A dispatch to
Reuters Telegram company from Am
sterdam gives the contents OF the
American note Of February % to Ger
many and Germany's reply thereto.
The notes were received in Amsterdam
In q dispatch from Berlin.
Germany's reply is in general an
acceptance of the American sugges-
tions. It offers to limit operations OF
submarines to practices recognized IN
international law II Great Britain and
her allies will not use neutral flags on
their merchant ships.
Besides, Germany is willing to aban-
don the use Of floating mines, but can
not fully renounce" the right to use
anchored mines IN offensive warfare.
She accepts the America, suggestion
for way In which neutral ships may
carry foodstuffs and other noncontra-
band to Germany and hopes America
can effect the desired agreement with
Great Britain, but suggests that neu-
trail commerce could be more easily
ssafeguarded if means could be found
to exclude the importation Of war
materials from neutral to belligerent
countries"
U. s. Proposes Compact.
+, The American note expresses the
hope that Great Britain and Germany
may by means of reciprocal conces-
rsions discover a basis of understand
ing the result Of which would tend to
free ships engaged in neutral and
peaceful commerce from the serious
dangers to which they are exposed in
passing through the coastal waters OF
the belligerent countries. 49,
This suggestion, the note proceeds
sto say, should not be considered as
proposal by the American government,
which 1t naturally does not behooye
to- propose conditions for such an
agreement, though the question at is
sue has q direct and far reaching IN
terest for the government and people
of the United States. nj
The note says the United States
ventures solely to take liberty, which
it is convinced can be conceded to q
sincere friend who is actuated by
desire to cause inconvenience to
neither of The two nations, and pos
sibly serve the common interests ct
humanity.
To Limit Use Of Mines.
The suggestion is made that Ger
many and Great Britain should agree.
first, that isolated drifting mines
should be laid by neither party.
1t is suggested, second, that the sub
marines of neither of the two govern
ments should be employed to attack
merchant vessels of any nationality.
except for the purpose of carrying out
the right of holding them up and
searching them; and, third, that mer-
camille ships of neither of the parties
should employ neutral flags as war
ruse or for the purpose of concealing
their identity.
Plan to Give Germans Food.
Great Britain, 1t is suggested, should
agree that foodstuffs shall not be
placed on the list of absolute contra
band and that the British authorities
shall neither disturb nor hold up car
goes Of such goods when addressed to
agencies in Germany, the names of
which are communicated by the United
States government, for the purpose of
receiving such goods and handing
them over to licensed German retailers
for further distribution exclusively to
the civil population.
Germany, it is commended, should de-
clare her agreement that foodstuffs
from the United States or any other
neutral country shall be addressed to
such agencies.
Reply Regarded Fair.
Berlin, via London, March Ger
many's reply to the United States as
to safeguarding neutral shipping is re-
garded by all who know the terms as
fair to all parties concerned. An at
tempt was made to frame the reply in
the same spirit of friendliness and JUS
tice in which the proposals were Of
fered.
NINE. MEN SAVED FROM MINE
4