The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-26
DUTCH ARE MAD,
But HELPLESS
Accuse Germany of Double
Dealing When Seven Ships
Were Blown to Pieces
Without Warning.
lBoRDER rs GUARDED
Teuton Troops Ready to cross Line
and Crush Little Holland
| II She Shows
Fight
BORDER IS GUARDED

rIJnited Press Leased Wire Service.
uONDON. Feb. 26.-Holland now
understands why two months ago
Germany began massing troops near
the Dutch border and appreciates tne
menace in widespread rumors that
these troops have actually construct
ed trenches paralleling the line. Fuo
lie indignation over the sinking o.
seven Dutch ships by, German SUD
marines, was tempered today BY the
realization OF real danger with which
the Netherlands are menaced In these
massed German forces just across the
line.
Dispatches from various Dutch
cities today indicated no aDatem0nt
In popular anger at the sinkings, Dut
a general disposition to weigh thls
example Of German double dealing
against the consequences OF sweep
forward by those menacing German
troops. The German explanation %
received, by wireless did not serve TO
quiet the public.
This explanation "details >negotia
tions with Berlin by Dutch shippers
for safe conduct OF the liners from
Falmouth After Eehruary III when tbs
last restriction on submarihings was
removed; how permission was grant
ed to February 13 and how later the
German government announced the
ships could leave with full safety
on March II or "only relative safety
on February %. The relative safe
ty" for the 22nd, it was explained.
was due to the fact that 1t was not
certain all submarines would receive
wireless orders to accord the Dutch
Ships massage,
Apparently" the Berlin statemen.
concludes, 'tthe eight ships finally
took upon themselves the risk OF the
trip. If the Dutch news Is correct
that these eight ships have been de-
stroyed-(one Is said to have struck
a mine near the English coast, while
the other seven on the afternoon uf
February 20 were destroyed on the
course indicated)-it is to be deeply
regretted, but the responsibility falls
upon ship owners who preferred to
send their ships under only compar-
atiye security on February % instead
of awiting until March II, at which
time full safety had been promised
Covet Dutch Food.
[By Ed l.. Keen, United Press Stan
Correspondents
LONDON, Feb. 26.-Conviction
grew in Great Britain today that Ger
many deliberately planned the tor
pedoing of the seven Dutch ships re-
ported on Saturday to have fallen vic
tins to German "ruthlessness."
The belief was based upon the
theory that Germany, her belt tight
from lack of food, has for long time
looked longingly at comfortable. well
fed Holland, her acres under cult.
vauon and deliberately sought to
force the Netherlands government
into war, so that she might raid this
store house of a nation.
This assumption, 1t was pointed
out, would explain the mysterious
massing of large German forces upon
the Dutch border and the treachery of
Berlin in not living up to a safe con-
duct grant to the Dutch vessels. The
Dutch situation was eagerly discussed
here today, being nearly as prominent
ly displayed in the newspapers as the
German retreat around Bapaume.
Commenting upon the Dutch crisis.