Evening star., 1939-10-08
War at Sea

w VI ~ wv
Things That Are to Be" might well
be title of chapter on last weeks march
of time at sea.
Most amazing episode came late in
week when White House dramatically
81 disclosed that German admiralty had
warned United States Naval Attache in
Berlin that refugee-laden American
steamship 1roquois then in mid-Atlantic,
was speeding toward mysterious doom.
Destruction would occur, Germanys
Grand Admiral Erich Raeder said,
through repeti-
lroquois Warning tion of circum-
Stortles Nation stances Whic h
marked the loss of
the steamship Athena" as Iroquois
neared American coast.
At full speed, naval and Coast Guard
vessels were rushed toward ocean rendez-
vous, but time and location of expected
contact were kept secret. Iroquois is
due in New York on Wednesday.
Today, Iroquois, carrying 584 American
passengers and crew of 2l2, steams to-
ward-What?
IOcdIlllS W llipllIdtlUIl llldC OcSIl w.
A. ton might be at British hands, British
admiralty scoffed at warning as meas
ure of cruel mentality" of Nazi leaders.
That motif of war at sea is to be re-
lentlessness was indicated by other pro-
nouncements of week.
Matching British decision to arm
merchantmen, Nazi press indicated au-
thoritatively that such vessels would be
sunk without warning. German sub
marines cannot be subjected to danger
of being shot at by Churchill's snipers
at sea-" Boersen Zeitung raped.
Heretofore, courtesy and consideration
OF sub commanders Except in case of
.Athenia's mysterious destruction) have
been marked.
OF more immediate American concern
was Nazi scolding:
American merchant vessels
should avoid any suspicious behavior,
parti cularly
Nozis Make Rules change of course
For U. S. Ships and use of the radio
apparatus upon
sighting German naval forces, zigzagging,
screening lights, failing to obey de-
mand to stop and acceptance of convoy
by naval forces of powers at war with
Germany"
Warning came after second plea from
Secretary of State Hull that Americans
not sail on belligerent vessels; was fol-
lowed by Hull pronouncement that
United States docs not recognize the
legality of unrestricted interference with
Americans ships and commerce. Never
theless it is believed advisable to
warn all American merchant ships =
Of the special danger"
~ Temperate reaction of United States,
official and unofficial, to Nazi threats
was in marked contrast to 1914-18 era.
Initial German pronouncement of
February, 1915, of intention to sink
enemy merchantmen brought protest
note from this Government For two
years intermittent Berlin Washington
exchange followed. But real bombshell
came on January 81, 1917, when Berlin
announced unrestricted submarine war
fare.
Accompanying memorandum "per-
smitted" single American passenger ship
each week to reach Falmouth, England,
and only under certain other conditions.
American pride was outraged, flag
waving became intense, diplomatic rela-
tions were severed, merchant ships were
armed.
Ultimate effect was our entrance into
war
Alarming maritime episode, to Britain,
was sinking of freighter Clement, trim
Eng J. S h -oWned
Mysterious Roider vessel in North
Sinks S. S. Clement sout ', h american nl,
coast. Attacker was surface ship, be-
lieved by many to be Admiral Scheer,
speedy pocket battleship of German
feet.
Supposedly bottled up with rest of Nazi
surface craft at Kiel, Admiral Scheer is
considered fighter superior to any but
three or four single ships of British grand
meet. Over all others, including all on
thls SIDE OF Atlantic, Scheer has distinct
eoge IN speed If not equipment. To send
adequate British pursuit in chase would
De costly, uncertain and perhaps long
drawn-out proposition.
In World War. German raider Emden
preyed on British shipping for months
before being tracked down and de-
stroyed
Bearing closely on prospective raiding
:. In American coastal waters was decision
Of 81 Pan-American nations. including
United States, to create neutral sea zone
IN Western Hemisphere Termed by some
complement to Monroe Doctrine"
agreement also included
Sofety Zone prohibition against use of
For Americas American territories as
bases for bellgerent ac-
tivities, rigid restrictions on use of
American ports by belligerent ships.
Unanswered question about pact was
How will it be enforced?"
In World War, hostiNties occurred