The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-24
BRITISH DOUBT
DUTCH RUM0R
OF ULTIMATUM
600 Chance to Flank Rhine
Forts if Holland Balks.
at Demands.
NETHERLANDS FEARFUL
Press Says Berlin Would Not
Hesitate to Invade if
Policy Paid.
Special Cable Despdfch to TuE Sux.

Copyright. 1915: all rights reserred.
LONDON, April 23.-Dcspite reports
that Germany actually has sen. time
limit ultimatum to Holland demanding
among other things the right to trans
port war materials through Dutch terri
tory the statement is question: at the
British Foreign once. 1t Is realised
that relations between The Hague and
Berlin have been strained almost to the
breaking point.
A British Foreign Office Official SAID
to-day:
Il hardly can credit the statement
that an uit!matum has been handed to
the Netherlands Government and should
be highly sceptical OF any such report
II Is quite true that Germany Is pressing
Holland very severely. She desires to
resume her sand and gravel transit be-
tween Belgium and Germany through
Holland. She also wants to make az
ranGements with Holland with reference
to coal and wheat.
Although Germany undoubtedly is
pressing Holland on these questions l do
not see any reason, and believe no one
can see. why Germany Intentionally
war either for or against her. There Is
no doubt Germany would prefer for Hol-
land to remain neutral
Objectionable Strategy.
In a strictly military sense the ad-
vantage OF Gsrmanys violating Dutch
territorial neutrality, II Is considered.
would he outwsished by the disad-
vanta ges. German strategists like Bern
hardi have emphasized the danger 10
Germany's northern harbors, which
would be threatened by British armies
, advancing across Holland to West
phalia. thereby turning the line of the
Rhine fortresses.
Ii Is quite possible, however. that II
the German General Star were convinced
that British military power is so tied w
on the western front as to make impos-
! sible the diversion OF any considerab bls
British forces to Holland. it might vio-
| late Dutch neutrality. 1t might even de
| cite to ignore the military drawbacks.
The Amsterdam Handelsbidd en-
phasises the general belief in the Neither
lands that, as In the case OF Belgium
| German policy toward Holland will bs
determined by the decision OF wha
promises to pay best. The HdndcisbldG
points out that were the position Of tn.
German army ever such that it woult
desire to use Dutch communications
even II the fact involved war with Hol
land. It would do So TO attain victory il
| the west
| The Hague NieUe Courdnt says thu
sand and gravel question is not thu
| only ground of apprehension. The tire
mendous militaSy events in northern
France shortly might compel Holland tc
make definite answers to desires or re
quests directly affecting Dutch neu
tral!ty.
New U-Boat Bases.
II also must be remembered that Ger
| many's naval chiefs have given abun
dant evidence OF their belief that pos
session of the Dutch ports and tn,
opening up OF the Scheldt would in
crease enormously the powers OF tn
submarine. Offensive naval operation
in view Of this possibility are not with
out Significance. The British nava
forces to-day carried out their dashin,
operation against Zeebrugge and Osten'
with a view to crippling these German
submarine bases and also 10 preven
the U-boats from widening their scop
Of operation.
1t also IL interesting to recall, wit
reference to Germany's attitude towar
Holland, that on the day Great Britai
declared war on Germany Won Jagov
then Foreign Secretary. telegraphe
Prince Lichnowsky in London to dispt
any mistrust on the part Of the Britis
Government regarding Germany's In
tentions toward Belgium. repeating as
surances that Germany under no pre-
text, would annex Belgian territory q
violate that country's neutrality II
added significantly:
| ut Is obvious we could not proflta bl
annex Belgian territory without maxi
ing a. the same time territorial nc
quisitions at the expense OF Holland"