The Washington herald., 1917-01-31
SHIPPING OF ENTENTE
TARGET IN new POLICY
German Admiralty Claims British Ships
Are Armed for Attack.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

that only aggressive action" by q
merchant vessel justifies submarine In
stpking 1t without warning.
Meantime German diplomats were
emphatic in their declaration that mer-
chantmen armed fore an aft will be
treated as auxiliary cruisers and be
sunk on sight 1t was clear that Ger
! many has determined upon a submarine
blockade" plan to prevent food-ships
and vessels carrying other supplies from
reaching the entente powers, and that
this plan will be followed despite
diplomatic developments
At the entente embassies it was stated
that no advices were forthcoming from
abroad as to any change in the status
Of merchant ships.
Germany, 1t was learned last night,
has initiated negotiations through
| American Ambassador Gerard in Berlin,
and through Ambassador Won Bernstorff
| here. in an effort to fix the attitude of
the United States. The German diplo-
mats contend that December II the
British admiralty authorized ship-owners
| to mount on their vessels guns making
the ships capable of offensive action.
They declare that the authorization fol-
lowed an agreement between the
admiralty and the ship owners that the
latter should undertake an aggressive
sponse, they declare, to the general
public demand in Great Britain for
vigorous action against the submarines.
Germany asks that this country adopt the
view that ships thus armed are not en-
titled to the protection extended to
''peaceable merchantmen"
The State Department, It was learned,
has asked that proof" of these conten-
tions be submitted, and Germany has
agreed to make an effort to supply the
evidence.
Conflict Imminent.
For the time being, therefore, the nego-
tiations are at a standstill. and Teutonic
diplomats here declare that the begin
ming Of conflict between merchant ships
and submarines on the high seas may be
precipitated at any hour. With the sub
marine developed to a point where its
cruising radius has been tremendously IN
creased, submarine activity Is now prac-
tically unlimited. The first instance of
sinking an armed merchantship may hap
pen IN the crowded lanes OF trans-Atlan-
tic travel. or at the doors of American
ports. 1t was admitted tonight that such
an incident, IL American citizens were
aboard the sunken vessel, would precipi-
tate another Busitania crisis at once.
German diplomats were disturbed be-
pOSSAOAAANy
of the United States would be delayed,
and they declared that this would force
the German admiralty to act 'in the
dark" They pointed out that IL the
American attitude was made plain, the
German government could make an effort
to meet it, but with the United States
still undecided Germany would be forced
to attack a merchantmen armed fore and
aft before a decision could be obtained.
AS an indication of an apparent de-
termination by Germany to begin an ag-
gressiye submarine campaign. there came
an unofficial dispatch to the State De-
partment from Amsterdam stating that
Germany had issued a warning to all
neutral nations, warning them to keep
their citizens and subjects off armed bel
ligerent vessels. The State Department
refused to discuss the dispatch beyond
the declaration that no formal report on
the matter had been received.
No Word About Sailors.
The State Department last night an
hounced that it had no confirmation of
reports from Copenhagen that American
sailors who were prisoners aboard the
German raider Yarrowdale had arrived
there after having been held as prisoners
70