Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-25
Destruction of Dutch Shipping
is Expected to Bring
Break of Relations
With Germany.
ALL CREWS ARE LANDED
New York Agents Of Ships Sunk
Say Cargoes Worth Over
Eleven Millions.
BRITISH SHIPS ARE SUNK
(By Associated Press.)

Widespread indignation IS reported
to have been caused in Holland by
the torpedoing of seven Dutch
steamers in the western approaches
to the English channel, announce
ment of which was made in London
Saturday. Three of the vessels, with
a total of 1876 tons, were sunk, and
the other four, although seriously
damaged remained afioat. ...
The crews Of all seven are believed
to have been saved. Eight million
dollars was the estimated value of
the ships. The Amsterdam bourse
was weak after the announcement.
The Dutch foreign Office stated that
the seven steamers had availed them
selves of German offer to sail to-
gcther from British port, believed
to be Falmouth, on February 22. The
total tonnage, sinking of which was
announced Saturday, including the
three Dutch and also three British
steamers, was 2l,l39.
German naval and military leaders
in Berlin estimated that the total
tonnage sunk during February would
not exceed 100000 and expressed sat
isfaction with the achievements OF
the German submarines. The an
nouncement was made by the Ger
man admiralty that 1000 troops
bound for Saloniki perished when the
Italian transport Minas was sunk
February II.
An armed merchantmen Is raiding
commerce in the Indian ocean and
has sunk two British steamers, ae-
cording to an announcement IN
Toxic. t
Washington, Feb. 24.-The tremen-
dous destruction Of Dutch shipping
during the last two days is regarded
here as the most acute phase Of the
international situation.
1t is regarded even as bringing
nearer the probability Of break in
diplomatic relations between The
Netherlands and Germany. So Tar,
Holland has made A0Aly ptotests
against destruction OF its neutral ships
BY German submarines, but the start
/ ling operations reported yesterday
and today are expected to arouse
wave Of popular indignation in The
Netherlands which that government
may find difficult to withstand, even
should it desire to do so.
The situation for Holland In rela-
| ton to Germany, as 1t is observed
from Washington, is growing more
and more difficult. Officials and dip
lomats here will be surprised il the
government does not take some ac-
ton. ~ rfH
Seven Ships Sunk Thursday.
London, Feb. 24.-Lloyds an
nounces that the crews OF the follow
ing steamers were landed yesterday,
their vessels having been torpedoed
on Thursday:
Zaandijk, Dutch, 4,l8o tons gross.
Noorderdijk, Dutch, 7,l5o tons.
Eemland, Dutch, 3,770 tons.
Jacatra, Dutch, 5,373 tons gross.
Menado, Dutch, 1914 tons.
Bandoeng, Dutch, 5,85l tons.
Gsasterland, Dutch. s
Four Of the seven Dutch steamers
were hou,eward bound with full car
goes. The attack took place in the
western approaches to the English
channel. w. .s.t. .4.5
No instructions as to, the routes
were either asked for or given by the
British admiralty. Ali the arrange
ments were in the hands of the Dutch
authorities.
Cargoes Worth Eleven Millions.
New York, Feb. 24.-The destruc-
ton OF Dutch ships by German sub
marines as reported from London in
wolves the loss of vessels and car
goes valued at $l1 100000, according
TO estimates made here today by
agents of the lines owning the seven
ships sunk.
The steamship Zaandijk was owned
by the Holland-American line. Ac-
cording to William van Doom, the
lines agent here, the vessel was en-
route from Rotterdam to New York
in ballast. 1t had put in at Falmouth
for examination.
The Noorderdijk, also Holland
American liner, carrying cargo of
grain from New York to Rotterdam,
had put in at Falmouth and was sunk
between Falmouth and Rotterdam.
The grain was intended for the Dutch
government.
The Eemland was owned by the
Royal Dutch Lloyds. 1t was coming
from Rotterdam in ballast for New
York and had called at Falmouth.
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