The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1915-02-17
GERMANY ADMITS THAT SHE NO
LONGER HAS SUFFICIENT FOOD
FOR HER PEOPLE.
England Is Charged With Violating
the Rules Of War in Preventing the
Shipment Of Food to Germanys Civ
ilian Population.

Berlin. Feb tG-CBy Wireless to-
SayvileL. J. Admiral Behnck e OF
the marine department has mad a
statement TO Lieutenant Commander
Walter r. Gherardi. naval attache Of
the American embassy at Berlin,
which is given out officially as the
best exposition OF the situation with
respect to Germany's declaration Of
the waters around the British Isles
as a war zone. Admiral Behnke's
statement follows
up to the present time Germany
in the war at sea mas followed the
London declaration Of the stipula-
tions of the Paris treaty on which
the conduct Of war on the sea had
been based before the London dec
laration.
In waging this commercial war
fare. England had in view the sub
iugation of Germany by starvation.
Germany had in every way sought to
bring the attention of the neutral
powers and all others TO the net-ss-
sity she was under to obtain food for
her civilian population, which was
her right under the laws Of war. No
results could be obtained from her
efforts
Since the shutting off Of food sup
plies had now come to point where
Germany had no longer sufficient
food to feed her people, it became
necessary for her TO bring England
to terms by the exercise of force.
Germany knows that by the use
of submarines England can be placed
in position where food will be lack
ing She has the submarine force
with which to do il; her life as a ma
tion and the lives of her people d
pend on putting this campaign into
action and she must do so
The difficulties lying in the way
Of this campaign have been largely
connected with the care which it IS
desired to give to neutral ships and
to the lives OF those on board all
commercial ships whether neutral or
belonging to the enemy.
First, in arming ner merchant
ships with guns for self-defense,
England adopted a policy against
which Germans strongly protested
The United States took the British
point of view It is not possible for
submarines to approach British mer-
chant ships and make examinations
without exposing themselves to gun
fire or bomb attack against which a
submarine boat would be helpless.
Second, England has advised her
to cover up names and change stacks
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 Americans
or other neutral ships or their car
goes, unless carrying contraDand 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 viii use this means.
Commanding officers of subma-
rine boats have been given orders to
make every effort to safeguard neu-
trails. In spite OF the precautions
which submarines could take-with.
out the danger of being destroyed
thems Ives ~ the possibility was
noted that neutral ships might
through error or accident be de-
stroyed For this reason a strong
warning was issued.
In addition the English coast has
been mined by the British them
selves for protective reasons, and
will be mined by the Germans as an
act OF offensive warfare. Ships were
therefore in danger from mines.
In spite of the great effect the
admiralty staff felt the use OF the
submarines will have in bringing the
war to rapid close, the admiralty
do not wish to put it into effect TO
the detrment OF neutral commerce
and the rights of nations on the high
seas They have. therefore, stated
that If Great Britain will abide by
tne declaration of LONDON, without
notifications or by the treaty of
Paris, whereby food supplies neces.
sary for the civil population can BE-