Evening journal., 1918-03-15
strive NEUTRALS
ERNAN plan NOW.
W. Board Explains Latest
hase of RuthleSSneSs
Against Shipping
AR LOOKING
BEYOND THE WAR

WsHINGTON, March i5-Germany's
lates campaign OF ruthlessness against
neual shipping is attributed by The
WatTrade Board In o statement last
nigh 20 a deliberate plan for cutting
on he north European nation, from
Amtican and Allied food supplies and
therby reducing them through starN-
ing 10 political and economic depen-
demo upon the TeutOnic war lords.
Vile the board makes no reference
90 BE- determination of the United
stats and Great Britain, disclosed to-
day,lo take over Dutch ships in Ameri-
can bnd Allied ports unless The Meth
erlatls government accepts a pending
eoommio agreement lbs statement
lhroks interesting light upon the situ-
atloi which led 90 this decision. The
hopd is expressed that The neuirals
will contrast the respective attitude OF
the United States and Germany toward
the problem Of feeding them.
Following is the statement.
"Cermany's war leaders are using he
submarine war weapon TO prevent full
nllment Of americas agreements 90
feed and relieve European neuirals. A
mass OF cumulative evidence and indi-
cations in the. possession Of Tie War
Trade Board show that Germany is en-
ploying the submarine menace to pre-
vent neighborng neutrals receiving any
food or favors at the hands OF the
United states and its associates in The
war and 10 cOerce these neutr8ls
through starvation into political and
economic dependence upon Germany
quite as much as to strike at the COM
munications Of its oppOnents-Ger-
manys ostensible aim in proclaiming
the ruthless submarine campaign.
Further Indications tend TO show
that the submarines are being used
along similar dog-in-the-manger lines
10 destroy neutral shipping without
regard 90 its employment In order 90
weaken prospective neutral competi-
tors after the war and 90 drag down
neutral tonnage as far as possible to-
ward a position Of equality or infer
iority) with the German mercantile
marine, which has lost between 40 and
so per cent. of los ocean tonnage. sd
that the neutral trader may be equally
as bad of as his German rival for
tonnage in the after-the-war race FOR
commerce.
NO other Interpretation can be
placed, for example. upon the repeated
instances of destruction Of neutral
Danish ships on voyages between the
Iceland and the Danish mother coun-
try entirely outside OF the war zone MOI
upon the multitudinous mistakes
whereby Dutch and other neutral ships
clinging TO the prevaFiOus narrow way
left open through the prohibited zon'
are torpedoed outside the zone by IT,
boat commanders. whose word that thl
vessels are within the zone Is later ac
cepted unqnestioned by the GesmaI
prize courts Prominent shipowner.
in Scandinavian countries have statel
their belief that many sinkings werl
inspired only by the intention TO &c
rid OF neutral tonnage so as to increas
the relative value OF German shippin,
available at the end Of the war. EX
aminations OF the captains Of torped
oed ships before the marine courts 10
these countries bear out The belief tha
testimony repeatedly shows that yes
sells were attacked outside the zone
'sThe intention Of the Germans q
prevent neutrals receiving food and
supplies under relief agreements con
cluded with the United Stales is Illus
trated by the German veto placed upoI
fhe temporary modus viyendl with H0l
land, providing for the provisioning o.
that country Two foodships LOADED
with supplies for the Netherlands alonl
with eleven Belgian relief ships hav0