Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-04-06
Navy Practicing While Ar
my is Mobilizing for
Work
HOLLAND STIRRED UP
Returned Neutral Tells of Elaborate
Precautions to Repel Invasion OF
Netherlands

| NetherlandS .
London, April, 6-"Holland barred
its teeth to the belligerents on both
sides so unexpectedly that the Dutch
public was as much astoniShed as
the remainder of the world" said
prominent neutral. just returned from
Amsterdam This person, who enjoys
exceptional opportunities of obtain
ing reliable information. stated that
not only was the Dutch army mobillz-
ed. but actual maneuvers were held as
if to repel forces landing from the
! North Sea in the neighborhood of
Flushing.
| The second chamber of the Dutch
Parliament has been informed by its
president that the recent suspension
of furloughs of officers and men OF
| Hollands army was precautionary
| measure decided upon because of
certain information" which had
reached the government and which
it did not deem wise to make public
at the moment. Holland was firmly
resolved to maintain her neutrality
he declared.
The mobilization was accomplished
swiftly. Virtually every private mo-
| tor-car in the country was selZcd.
While mobilization took place along
| the German frontier, maneuvers were
held only along the seacoast. To add
to the excitement. the Germans mas
sed men and guns along the Bel
go-Dutch frontier, near Antwerp, as
if in preparation to repel an invasion
from that direction.
The returned neutral is convinced
! the demonstration was aimed against
Germany as much as England He
stated irritation in Holland against
al! bellgerents had become so pro
nounced that there was sullen feel
ing of hostility toward both Germany
and Great Britain which was becom.
| ing general throughout the country.
On account of the British blockade
Holland is experiencing shortage Of
food to such an extent that the
American Commission for Relief Of
! Belgium has been asked to loan some
of it's food supply to certain districts.
The Dutch government has deter
mined that food shall be transported
to Holland in vessels commandcered
by it without reference to any lim;-
tation fixed by agreement with the
Netherlands Overseas Trust.
This food. will be shipped IN the
name of the Dutch government. "hich
will regard any attempt to Interfere
with it as an unfriendly act Many
importers who have been excluded
! from the operations of the Nethef-
lands Overseas Trust are so emblt-
tered bv the ruin Of their businesses
v,.hich are on the British blacklist,
that thew stand ready to offer the
government substantial support III
,nv steps it NAV take to end the foo0
blockade.
The feeling of hostility against Ger
many is equally pronounced. Inc
Dutch believe the German govern
ment has engaged in a deliberate
campaign against Dutch shipping.
Dutch warships are now patrolllng
the North Sea trade routes. sweeping
away or shooting mines.
Another neutral, who made the
trim to Flushing last Saturday, stated
that during the passage Dutch and
British patrol boats shot 40 mines
These mines were of a new type,
colored like the water. and were very
difficult to dodge, even in daylight.
This neutral asserted the Dutch
!, have declared closed to belligerents
the waters around North Hinder
Light, and that in this vicinity a
, Dutch destroyer fired at the peri
q scope of a submarine.
According TO both these informants,
the excitement in Holland subsided