The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-03-15
USE U-BOATS TO
CRUSH NEUTRALS
Germany's Latest Campaign of
RuthIessness Explained by
War Trade Board. :
TO STARVE SMALL NATIONS
Plan to Cut Off Nations From U. S.
and Allied Supplies and Force
Them to Yield to the
kaser's Wishes.

Washington, March 15.-Germany'S
latest campaign of ruthlessness- against
neutral shipping is attributed by the
war trade board, in statement issued
here, to deliberate plan to cut off
the north European nations from
American and allied food supplies,
thereby reducing them through starva-
tion to political and economic depend
ence upon the Teutonic war lords.
Aimed at the U. S.
Following is the statement:
"Germany's war leaders are using
the submarine war weapon to pre-
vent fulfillment of American agree
ments to feed and relieve European
neutralS. A mass of cumulative evil
dence and indications in the posses
sion Of the war trade board shows
that Germany is employing the sub
marine menace to prevent neighbor
neutrals receiving any food or favors
at the hands of the United States
and its associates in the war to CO.
cree these neutral through starvation
into political and economic depend
ence upon Germany, quite as much as
to strike at the communications of its
opponents ostensible aim
in prOclaiming the ruthless submarine
campaign.
Dog-in-the- -Manger Idea.
Further indications tend to show
that the submarines are being used,
along similar dog-in-the-manger lines,
fo Shinrino yEithnnt
gard to its employment in order to
weaken prospective neutral competi-
tors after the war and to drag down
neutral tonnage as far as possible to-
ward a position of equality Cor infer
iority) with the German mercantile
marine. which has lost between 40 and
so per cent of its ocean tonnage, so
that the neutral trader may be equal
ly as badly off as his German rival for
tonnage in the after-the-war race for
commerce.
prominent ship owners in Scandi-
navian countries have stated their be-
lief that many sinkings were inspired
only by the intention to get rid of neu-
tral tonnage so as to increase the rela-
tive value of German shipping avail
able at the end of the war.
Put Ban on Dutch Ships.
1.-The intent of the Germans to pre-
vent neutrals receiving food and sup
plies under relief agreements cOnclud-
ed with the United States is illustrated
by the German veto placed upon the
temporary modus vivendi with HOl-
land, providing for the provisioning Of
that country.
1.-TWO food ships loaded with sup
plies for the Netherlands, along with
eleven Belgian relief ships, have been
waiting in American ports for weeks
unable to sail because of the refusal
of Germany to permit an equivalent
amount of tonnage leaving Dutch har-
bors, the obvious plan of the German
authorities being to gather all Dutch
ships into home harbors and then pre-
vent any Of them sailing by threats to
torpedo any vessel leaving Holland
waters.
ITO relieve the food situation in Rol-
land the war trade board has finally
authorized the transshipment Of the
food in question from the two Dutch
steamers to the Holland liner Nieu
Amsterdam, which is sailing shortly.
Aim Even at Swiss.
"Now success of the earnest efforts
of the United States government to
rush shipments of bread grain TO
Switzerland is threatened by the ac
ton of German submarines, which, ac-
cording to now fully confirmed reports
from Switzerland, have made a start
on a new policy of ruthlessness by
sinking the neutral Spanish steamer
Sardinero, secured with great Difficult
~ to carry food to that country.
"It is hoped that Switzerland and
other neutrals will contrast the re,
spective attitudes of Germany and the
United States toward the problem OF
feeding the neutrals and will take due
notice of this latest attempt of Ger
many TO intimidate neutral ship own
ers, through ruthless summarizing
from carrying food to Switzerland.
''They will also note the same Ger
man spirit toward Holland, which Ger
many seems determined to prevent re-
ceiving food supplies, except upon
German terms"
Turkc Tale ErxertIy,o