The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, March 18, 1915, Image 6
/
mi NOT INIEIN
OOMMKROB RAIDKR MAX TRY TO
MAKX ITS BSOAPE.
GOES INTO 00Y DOCK
Ontnred Crew* on Board Eltel Fried*
rich are Releaaed—Captain Says
He Deatroyed American Ship Car*
tying Wheat—Member* of Crew
Tell Tale* of Sea.
Commander Tierlchens of the Ger
man converted cruiser Prlnz Eltel
Friedrich, which went Into dry dock
at Newport New*, Va., for repairs
Thursday submitted two statements
to Customs Collector Tamllton of that
port.
One stated his reasons for Jinking
In south Atlantic waters January 28,
last, the American sailing ship Wil
liam P. Frye and with her cargo of
1,200 tons of wheat consigned to
Qneentown. The other related to
the length of time that will be re
quired to repair his ship.
In the statement relating to the
repairs necessary on the Eltel Fried
rich, it was believed the German
commander declared the vessel could
be made seaworthy within a few
days or-a week at most. Whether he
stated in the communication that he
wished to depart as soon as Ameri
can naval authorities could pass on
repairs that are to be made, was not
disclosed. The German commander
previously made it clear, however,
that it was not his Intention to intern
his ship.
As to the condition of the Eitel
Friedrich’s engines and boilers he
reported that whereas she had been
making 18 knots an hour at the be
ginning of her campaign against ene
my merchant ships she scarcely dar
ed make 12 when she reached Ameri
can waters early Wednesday morn
ing.
After the German cruiser went into
dry dock Thursday night she dis
charged the crews of British, Frencu
and Russian ships she had sunk, hav
ing released the American crew in
the afternoon. The French crews left
for New York. A few Russians went
with them. The British crews plan
to return to England on British ships
laden with horses from this port.
Commander Thlerlchens assured
officials that neither he, officers or
men of the Eltel Friedrich would set
foot on American soil except on offi
cial business. He made this state-
meat to Collector Hamilton after
stating that It was his Intention not
to latent hls ship.
In Newport News ship yard Thurs
day nigh( the released sailors of
British ships, after receiving their
kits, marched to street cars, singing
"Tipperary."
Commander Thlerlchens agreed to
deliver in writing to the American
government hls eiplanation and rea
sons for sinking la the south Atlantic
a seas the American sailing ship Wll
Ham P. Frye. He also agreed, after
Collector Hamilton had boarded the
German merchant marine destroyer
and submitted neutrality require-
meets of the Washington government
to communicate an estimate of the
time required to repair hls ship, at
the same time stating that it was hls
desire not to intern hls vessel but to
proceed as soon as the necessary re
pairs could be made.
To the request of the Washington
government that he land the crews of
the captured and sunken vessels and
such passengers as could comply with
immigration regulations, the German
commander gave assent.
The Eitel Friedrich herself steam
ed Into the Newport News ship yard
and went into dry dock, where ex
perts began an examination of her
condition. Held on board were about
76 third class passengers of the
French steamer Floride, refused ad
mission by immigration inspectors on
the ground of ineligibility. Consuls
of the nations represented among the
passengers will arrange as soon as
possible for their departure to Ellis
Island. New Y^>rk, and for their de
portation.
The crew of the Frye was taken to
the customs house and made sworn
statements of circumstances attend
ing the sinking of the ship January
28 last off the river Plitte. Collector
Hamilton prepared a joint summary
of conditions which the members of
the crew signed, tp be forwarded to
Washington. They were not made
public.
Collector Hamilton said that all
the testimony was in line with the de
tails given by Capt. Kiehne, master
of the ship, who has said that hls ship
was blown up with her cargo of
wheat for Queenstown, after the crew
had been warned to board the Ger
man cruiser.
Two members of the Frye’s crew
remained on the Eitel Friedrich.
They were German subjects. Charles
Frank and Robert Rogge, who were
held by Commander Tierlchens be
cause of eligibility for service in-Ger
man arms. These men made no re
quest to come to American soil, will
ingly remaining on board the Eitel
Friedrich, and were pressed Into ser
vice. '
Controversy arose over the papers
of the destroyed American ship Frye.
Collector Hamilton, in the name’'of
the government, asked that they be
surrendered by Commander Thlerfch-
ens of the Eitel Friedrich. The Ger
man commander sald'he wishes tp re
tain the originals Arid would give Col
lector Hamilton copies.
**In Justice to .the German com
mander,*' said Collector Hamilton, ‘T
wish to say that he has mads no ob
jection to giving a copy of the Frye's
papers, bat has insisted that the orig
inal should go to the prise court as
evidence of his action in destroying
the American ship. I have sought to
bins that a. copy woo Id do
■nder T% 1 eric beer has
eeaaideratloB’’
that ha had th* Hktal Fried rich ex
am In *d bf spaainHsU of the Newport
Nsos ship yard and after doekag* ex
amination weald submit aa estimate
of th* Urns that would he roqulred
to repair her. H* said that It was hls
Intention to repair and proceed; that
It was not his Intention to intern. H*
said further that h* would submit
rsaoons and circumstances for Unk
ing th* American ship Fry*."
•(embers of the crew of th* Frye
and officers of other sanken ships re
vealed thrilling stories of th* Eltel
Friedrich's cruise, Capt J. Wedge-
wood of the British steamchip Wiler-
by, sunk February 20, described bow
h« narrowly missed sinking the Eitel
Friedrich. ' .
"The German ship was almost on
us before we discovered her," said
Capt. Wedgewood. "We were going
full speed ahead and the Friedrich
was coming full speed, about to ram
us broadside. I swerved and tried to
claw around her, but the Friedrich
also swerved toward ouf stern. In
stantly I saw my chance to ram her
and gave the order: 'Reverse the en
gines and give ’em hell for all you’re
worth!’
"We were soon going full speed
astern, and It seemed ^e could not
fail to strike. We aaw men and wo
men wildly motioning. Little did I
know that there were British, French
and Russian prisoners aboard. J only
thought of the chance to ram and
sink the enemy. But tbe>Eitel Fried
rich missed the crash by only a few
yards." *
"Yes,” spoke up A. E. Bobbing,
master of the British ship Ada Short,
which had been sunk two days be
fore, "and while you were doing that,
I was leaving through one of the
Friedrich’s portholes, sure you were
going to hit us.”
Jack Macey, one of the crew of the
Frye, told of the sinking of the
French steamer Floride. "She was
full of wines and you should have
seen her burn. The Friedrich scoot
ed, for she was afraid of the glare
and had heard the wireless of British
warships not far away."
"We sighted 38 neutral ships but
not one was spoken by the Eltel
Friedrich," said Capt. King of the
British sunken sailing ship Invercoe.
"Every time a neutral ship appeared,
we all were put below hatches. When
we were approaching the Virginia
capes, we were in the hatchea and
German officers said to us:
** ‘Don’t be frightened. If a Brlt-
Ish cruiser sights us, stay down be
low. We'll return her fire till our
masthead sinks."
When Collector Hamilton went
aboard the Kite! Friedrich the rust-
streaked hull and blackened smoke
stacks of the cruiser concealed a con
trast of gay apirlta that even the atm
regime of wartime dioclpllne could
not repress
When officers came on deck from
the banquet table of the captain, who
was celebrating hls birthday, there
was no sign of fatigue. Behind the
black shields that conceal the truls-
er'a guna the crew were pollahlng the
shining breeches. The deck officer
in hls worn but neat uniform ewung
back and forth and everything bore
out the captain'* curt reminder to
atrangers who wished to board: “This
Is a warship. We can not permit vial-
tor* ” •
When the crew of the Frye left
their prison ship cheers were given
the German gartara.
The cruise of the Eitel, which one
officer declared to be the longeet ever
made by a ship of war, was crossed
by a web of wireless messages that
had to go unanswered, according to
one of the crew.
"The one message that made us
laugh was to hear we were sunk
again,” continued the physician.
"When we were in the Pacific we
heard we were sunk off Pajagonla.
When we rounded the-Horn we heard
that we had been lost in the South
China sea."
Other periods of "listening in"
gave life saving tips to the fugitive
ship, it was explained.
"We wer e after a big British sail
ing vessel,” the sailor continued,
“when we heard the Karlsruhe talk
ing to us. ‘Keep off,’ she said, 'ene
my warships; I'll get the English
man.’
"So we went away," the sailor
said, “and the Karlsruhe got her.”
Before leaving for hls ship after a
visit ashore Paymaster Loussau in
telling of the career of the Eltel
Friedrich, sought to reflect no glam
our of heroics.
“Why did we leave the Pacific af
ter our long cruise?" the paymaster
asked. "Because we found little to
do in the South Pacific. 'We were
after merchantmen and for days Vve
cruised about in the Pucifiq and saw
nothing. Wfien w^ reached the South
Atlantic we had better luck. We
were surprised not to find British
ships in the Atlantic. Where were
they all? It is true that we heard
British wireless talking and we were
glad of that becaus > until 14 days
ago wo had no news. Then we got
considerable from the British wire
less but the trouble was lt> was all
from the Enylish side.”
Desire for news was the only emo
tion that appeared to stir the Ger
man officer. He expressed surprise
that any of the Emden had reached
shore and disclaimed all first-hand
knowledge of the big battles off
Chile and in the Atlantic.
"We were alone," he said, “and
we worked for ourselves.”
' “We did no fighting.” the officer
continued, "but we sunk every mer
chantman we could find.”
It was a business matter the pay-
mater indicated, and he implied that
it was done in a business-like way.
"Of course we should have attack
ed any other converted vessel of our
class,” he explained, "but we had no
armorplate and so we avoided war
ships.”
And while the Prins Eitel went
about her business of interfering with
her enemies business in a business
like wsy the crew and passengers
dined well, according to their last!*
outey.
"like a hotel." said a French aee-
oad plant pa—anger “Of enerae." he
had beea well eatwd far. The cruis
er might well have been fytag maay
mm, aa« others, all accept the ship’s
officer* aad crew being eapdvee ef
reseals which th* cruiser had cap
tured and soak la th* waters of th*
Pacific aad th* Atlaatlc. Thar* war*
pica, woman, chlldrea aad a Uttar of
puppies, bora while th* ehlp waa en
voy age. Th* captives had been al
lowed to bring their belongings on
board and th*** were piled on the
decks here and there while emigrant
women squatted around, some with
Infant children in their arms. Boys
and girls played in and out between
parcel* of baggage and made merry,
while an infant only a few months
old slept quietly In Its mother’s arms.
H. H. Klenhe of Baltimore is the
master of the American ship and af
ter leaving the Eitel Friedrich with
Customs Collector Hamilton he told
a dramatic story of his experience.
With him were hls wife and two chil
dren.
“Despite my protestations that, I
was the American master of an
American ship, the Gei’man cruiser
Eitel Friedrich sank the William P.
Frye on the mornino of January 28,
blowing a gaping hole through her
vitals with a charge of dynamite,”
said Captain Kiehne.
“I was almost becalmed when the
German ship appeared about 2 o’clock
In the afternoon of January 27. My
ship was barely moving dhd I paid no
attention to the first order from the
Dutchman to lay-to. However, she
bore down on me and I brought my
craft to a standstill. After learning
that I carried a cargo of wheat, the
German captain told me that it was
contraband and he intended to de
stroy It. I protested, but no attention
was paid to my statements.
”A German officer and squad of
men was sent aboard the bark and I
and my crew were set to wors throw
ing the grain overboard. The Ger
man sighted another vessel also be
calmed and made for her. He return
ed about 10 o'clock at night, having
sent the other ship to the bottom, as
I afterward ascertained.
"Evidently the grain was not being
thrown overboard fast enough to suit
the German skipper, for he sqnt a
half hundred of hls men aboard soon
afterwards and the work went on for
hours without interruption. How
ever, it was slow at best and I was
informed about 2 o'clock next morn
Ing that my ship would bp sent to the
bottom, which was done in the man
uer described above.
‘‘It was originally the intention of
the German captain to leave enough
of the cargo in the hold of the ship
for bsllast. That part of the grain
was to be rendered useless by salt
water.
"As soon as I was Informed that
my ship was to be sent to the bot
tom,# my wife and two boys and the
crew made for the German cruiser In
our boats. We were taken aboard
and shown every courtesy through
out the remainder of the voyage
"For two weeks be ore making
this port the German ship molested
no ships of any kind and always
avoided them, not wishing to give th*
English cruisers any wind of her In
tentlona. She proceeded slowly up
the coast, all lights that were not out
being carefully shaded.”
The captain's wife stated that she
and the chlldrea were s little fright
ened when overtaken by the German
cruiser. However, she said that their
fears were allayed when she wept
aboard the cruiser, the officers and
men making every effort to give them
all possible comforts.
ill UNFRIENDLY ACT
SINKING OF AMERICAN MOT
MUST BE ATONED FOR
TAKES OVER ALL TRADES
ENGLAND SECURES CONTROL OF
ENGINEERING TRADES.
RAIDER SANI NEUTRAL
Anaotucfr*
Waahingtoa Stirred by
meat of German Raider That in Its
Conae it Sent to the Bottom an
American Owned Ship—Protest
Likely.
NEW CABINET TAKE OATH.
King Constantine Succeeds in Secur
ing Neutral Ministers.
A Reuter dispatch from Athens
says the new Greek cabinet has taken
the oath of office and also contained
this ministerial decision communicat
ed to the newspapers!
‘'’For Greece, after her victorious
wars, a long period of peace was an
Imperative necessity to enable her to
work for the prosperity of the coun
try.
"In the circumstances the observ
ance of neutrality was Imperative for
her from the very beginning of the
European crisis.
"It was, and always is, her abso
lute duty to fulfill her treaty obliga
tions and to seek satisfaction for her
Interests, without, however, compro
mising the integrity of her territory.
The government conscious of the duty
of thus serving the interests of the
country, is convinced that the patriot
ism of the* people will ensure the en
tire security of those interests.”
MINERS ARK SAVED.
Rescuers Dig 47 From West Virgin
ian Coal Disaster.
Forty-seven miners were rescued
alive Saturday from the workings of
the Layland mines of the New River
and Pocahontas Consolidated Coal
company, at Hinton, W. Va., wreck
ed, by an explosion Tuesday. For
four days and four nights they had
been without food or drink.
Sam Morici N?ras the hero, who
compelled the small party to barri
cade themselves, and Hugh McMillan
and John Whalen practically forced
the larger party to build a rude bar
ricade to shut out the noxious after
damp. Realizing that their only hoph
for rescue lie’ in keeping out the gas
and after-damp McMillan and Whal
en made their companions collect
planks for a barricade. Behind it the
forty-tw® waited in the darkness
ninety-six hours. The survivors suf
fered severely Jrom lack of nourish
ment. All, it is believed, will re
cover.
Adopts Compulsory Attendance.
Compulsory school attendance by
all Belgian children will be enforced
from Thursday by order of the gov
ernor general of Belgium, according
to a telegram received from Brass*Is
by way of Barlin.
Arrival of tho German converted
cruiser Prlnz Eltel Friedrich at New
port News, w}th the unouncement
that during her six months cruise as
a commerce raider, she had sent to
the bottom one American owned ves
sel, which flow theHeg of the United
States, profoundly stirred official
Washington.
In the absence of a detailed story
of the sinking of the American ship,
the William P. Frye, off the coast of
South America, judgment was with
held, but there was no attempt to
deny the seriousness of the ‘Incident
and it was conceded that on its face
it bore tho appearance of an un
friendly act on the part of a German
ship of war, which must result in
diplomatic negotiations with the Ger
man government.
Such Information as had come'to
official ears Wednesday night was in
substance that the Frye was blown
up because the commander of the
Prlnz Eltel held her cargo of wheat
to be contraband. It was pointed
out that wheat is not contraband un
less consigned to a belligerent or
some agent of such government. The
Frye’s manifest showed her bound
for Queenstown "for orders.” Of
ficials explained that this declaration
In the manifest was aot unusual and
added that circumstances so far
pointed to the fact that the Frye waa
not aubjoct to seizure or destruction
The master, officers and crew of
the Frye will appear in Norfolk be
fore Collector of Customa Hamilton,
and wUl,be questioned at length
about circumstances of the ship's de
parture from Seattle last November
and of her capture and destruction.
Fact* gathered will be forwarded to
Washington, and, if necessary, the
state department will conduct an in
quiry of its own and will not under
take negotiations with Germany until
Its case is clear Juct what demands
might be made upon Germany If the
blowing up of the Frye were consid
ered an unfriendly act. were not dis
closed Wednesday night. It was un
derstood. however, that tho United
States probably woulJ seek the usual
honorable amentia under Internation
al law aa well aj reparation for the
owners
Th* Print Eitel undoubtedly will
be interned in Hampton Roads un
less her commander is willing to take
a chance with the allies* ships with
her general condition for from sea
worthy.
Collector Hamilton boa ccrved the
customary notice that the Eltel must
sail within forty-clgh? hours or in
tern. or give reasons for a longer
stay which will be satisfactory to
Washington. If her commander de
sires to make repaitx, additional time
can be allowed but In view of a pre
liminary report by expert* that at
least several montha would be re
quired to fit her for active sea ser
vice, It was generally believed that
the only course open fo,* her la to in
tern.
Conditions on the cruise.' with the
survivors of the ships she has cap
tured aboard for weeks past were
said Wednesday night to he far from
good, and it is probable that all pos
sible will be done to arrange for im
mediate lemoval oi ♦.hoi^ cn the ship
All males of belligerent nations
aboard her not subject to military
service probably will be put in charge
of consular representatives of their
respective countries. If tho Eitel in
terns all the survivors will be releas
ed automatically.
Delicate problems of international
law requiring immediate decision
arising out of the cruiser’s arrival
were the subject of several confer
ences between ctate and navy depart
ment officials. T>*olsion on the vari
ous points is expected.
Secretary Daniels transmuted the
reports he rjcieved to the neutrality
board for a decision on tho following
points:
How long the vessel nay remain In
port to undergo repairs?
Whatidisposition shall be made of
the survivors of the various ships
captured by the Prinz Eitel?
What legal proceedings, if any.
shall be entered against the Prlnz
Eltel and her officers for sinking the
American steamer Frye?
The extent of the Eitel Friedrich’s
repairs and the length of her so
journ In port unless she Interns will
be determined after an investigation
by an American naval constructor.
Officers and crew o{ the Prinz Eitel
will be interned if the vessel itself is
interned. They may be given paroles
on promise not to participate in the
war again! The owners -f the Frye
took out a poliev for $11,550 with
the government war risk‘insurance
bureau last October; aqd -this ^ay
play a part in deterratfilng her status
as a carrier of cargo; not subject to
seizure. The Frye’s policy contained
this clause:
"Warranted to the best of the
knowledge and belief of the insured,
no shipment .of absolute contraband
wlH be loaded and that no coodltlon-
al contraband will be loaded when ar
ticles constituting such ooaditlbfial
contraband are destined tor the ate
of the armed force* of a , overnment
department of a belligerent Atate, mr
An_£onalcned.to th* authorittna of a
belligerent slate, or to a contractor
established ta a betllfareat coontry
who a* master ot commoa knowledge
WILL IFJFU NOTE
WILSON'S PLAN APPEARS DWAIML
QUATE TO THE BRITISH.
Government ie Authorized to Use All
Plants Necessary to Ton Oat Mo
nitions ot War.
The House of Commons has given
the English government authority to
take over the control of the country’s
entire engineering trade and to place
it under a combined management, for
the purpose of increasing the output
of war munitions.
The defence of the Realm Act,
passed at the-outbreak of the war,
gave the government power to cop-i
trol works where war materials ac
tually were being made. David Lloyd
George, chancellor of the exchequer,
on behalf of the government, Tuesday
asked that the control of manufac
tures be extended to works capable of
being used for that purpose.
This power was unanimously grant
ed, although Andrew Bonar Law, op
position leader, described the meas
ure as "probably the most drastic
ever laid before parliament.”
The step on the part of the gov
ernment came as a complete sur
prise, although Mr. Lloyd George, in
a speech at Bangor last week, empha
sized the importance of increasing
the output of war munitions, which
labor disputes had threatened to di
minish.
Now the workers in the engineer
ing trade will be in the position of
public servants, and the government
hopes this will impress them with
the importance of keeping up the
supplies. A business man will be
given charge of the organization.
With the war area extending and
the size of the army end navy con
stantly increasing, the government
found that something must be done
to keep the fighting branches sup
plied with arms and ammunition. The
fleet bombarding the Dardanelles
alone la using an immense quantity
of ammunition.
The operations of this fleet, now
reported to have beep reinforced by
another battleship of the Queen Eliz-
abeih class, and which is known to
include more shins than mentioned
in dispatches continued to keenly in
terest the British people.
Reports that three of the forts
guarding the narrows, one on the
European and two on the Asiatic
ship, all armed with 14-lnch guns
have been silenced, have Increased
the confidence of the British pub’lc
thst thetr warships will force th*
straits
In addition 14 the tnilltarr and
economic importance the opening of
the straits would have. th» Allies are
said to believe It wouM have an im-
men*e effect not only on Turkey, but
on Turkey's neighbors. Greece al
ready la involved In a constitutional
crisis over the Dardanelles, and It
»as reported that a similar crisis had
arisen in Bulgaria, where. It waa said
the premier was demanding Interven
tion on the aide of the allies in oppo
sition to the wishes of King Ferdi
nand. who. It is declared, desires to
remain neutral.
In Greece, M Gournarls has under
taken to form a cabinet to succeed
that of M Venlzeloe and threatens to
d'ssclve parliament If that body does
not endorse his policy of friendly
neutrality towards the allies. It is
believed In I^ondon. however, that the
people will force the Greek govern
ment to Intervene and that M. Venl-
zelos will soon be back In office.
ASKS FDR GUARANTEES
one could ask.”
"We are awaiting Admiralty or-
ders,’’ was the officer's response to
the suggestion that he might not
leave immediately. "They are com
ing from Berlin by way of the Wash
ington embassy.’’
The sinking of the Frye, like the
rest of the Sitel’s seizures, was look
ed upon by the officer as all in a
day’s work.
“She took the chance,” he said,
“she was carrying contraband to the
enemy.”
When the German cruiser entered
the port ali souls on board were in
good humor and admitted that they
the armed forces of a belligerent."
Another clause declares the policy
void if the vessel insured carries sup
plies to war vessels of belligerents.
When the owners of the Frye
agreed to a policy with these clauses
officials 1l Washington presumed that
her cargo was not consigned to the
use of a belligerent nation.
The tavy department Wednesday
night issued the following statement
based on a report to Secretary Dan
iels by Rear Admiral Beatty, com
mandant of the Norfolk navy yard:
“Prinz Eltel Friedrich, the German
navy complement transferred from
command of gunboat in China. Offi
cers are regular German officers. The
crew came from the Kalserin Lutz.
The chief engineer thinks it will take
about two or three weeks to make
repairs. The captain says he thinks
much longer time necessary, and says
the ship must be docked and repairs
made to propeller and rudder and the
auxiliary machinery. Rollers are In
bad condition. Repairs can not- be
made In time to be allowed to pro
ceed. He estimates 1,600 tons of
coal the smallest amount needed to
take hlni to German port. Ship Is
very foul. All auxiliaries running."
Allied Power. Says It Pro vide* for tho
Foregoing of a Distinct Belligerent
Advantage While Barring Germany
From Only Two of Her Long list
ot Crimea—Reply Coining Soon.
The British reply to the American
note suggesting that Great Britain
allow foodstuffs to epter Germany,
in return for Germany’s abandon
ment of her submarine warfare on
merchant vessels and her policy of
mining the high seas. Is expected ta
be forthcoming soon. >
While the contents of the reply are
not known in London or Washington,
It is possible to indicate some point*
likely to carry weight with the Brit
ish government.
There is a strong feeling in Down
ing street that the "quid pro quo”
put forward in the American not*
does not go far enough. Foreign of
fice officials point out Great Britain
has interfered only once with food
destined for Germany, and then only
after the German government, by as
suming control of all foodstuffs, had
abolished the old distinction between
the civil and the military population.
High German authorities have de
nied repeatedly the British claim that
to cut off supplies- of food from civil
ians is a legitimate act of war. Great
Britain, it is Insisted, never adopted
this view until the Germans made it
impossible any longer to draw the
line between non-combatants and}
armed forces. Furthermore, it is add
ed, Great Britain now is Invited by
the United States to forego a clear
belligerent right, on the understand
ing that Germany will refrain from
committing two—but only two—o'
many crimes against both law an
humanity.
Authoritative British spokesmen
lay atreas on the ‘‘Inadequacy’] of
this proposal from two standpoints.
They ask. first, what guarante* ta
forthcoming that Germany will keep
to her agreement. Supposing, they
urge, that an understanding were
reached on the line* suggested by the
United States, would the United
States secure Its strict observance*
They assert that Germany has vio
lated so msny compocast 1 nd conven
tions in this war that British states
men are disinclined to trust her un
supported word.
Second, they urge that the two of
fenses specified In the American note
—submarine aarfare on merchant
vessels and the mining of the high
aeaa—ar e far from being the only or
even the worst offense* of which Gee-
many has been guilty. The claim I*
set up that ahe has bombarded un
fortified towns, dropped bomb* oa
places inhabited solely by civilian*
and sank both British and neutral
ships
Great Britain, it la pointed out. has
indulged in none of these practice*
and such mines as she has been com
pelled in self-defense to lay have been
laid in strict accordance with Th*
Hague conventions.
The German poMcy which arouse*
the most indignation, is the alleged
continuance of the prosecution of the
Belgians, many of whom. It la declar
ed, “who would be al this moment
In a state of semi-starvation but for
American generosity md assistance."
The view therefore held in the
most authoritive quarter of Great
Britain is that if there is to be any
question of Germany’s conforming to
the rules of civilized warfare with
respect to all points, It must come up
for discussion and that Great Britain
could enter Into no agreement on
subject which did not include a radl
cal change in Germany’s proceeding;
in Belgium.
Finally, it is declared by the same
authority, these being the factor*
that mainly influence British official
opinion, it may be inferred that the
natural sympathy of the British gov
ernment with the American sugges
tion, both on its merits and from its
source of origin, must to some ex
tent be mitigated by other and wider
considerations.
• To See No Callers.
The White House announces that
because of the pressing character of
the Mexican and other interpational
questions, President Wilson will sdfe
no callers except government officials
for the next three weeks
SPRAYED THEM WITH FIRE.
Admitted Free of Duty.
Owing to the tremendous rise in
the price of flour and wheat the Chil
ean government has announced that
both thee* product* would be *Alg-
tad free of doty
Teutons Came Near Making Passagw-
Through Opposing Lines.
A French war office statement de
scribes in somewhat greater detail
the use by the Germans of a burning
liquid against French trenches in the
woods of Malincourt, referred to pre
viously. The statement says:
“Onli’ebruRry 26, toward noon, the
men who occupied one of the
trenches thus captured saw thick and
voluminoue smoke rising against the
parapet of* their field work. This
column of smoke, of blackish color,
rose to a height of forty metres.
Those who were farthest away
thought that our men had jiist set
oft a mine. v ■ 1
"The defenders of the trench felt
a hot wind blow upon them and a
few Instants later they were burned
with a flaming liquid, which they be
lieved to be from Aar. The Jets of
liquid spurted upon them through
'the smpke as if hurled from a pump.
There were a dozen metres of breast
works and wire in front of th»
trencher but, concealed by the cloud
of smoke, the Germans, many of
whom eirr>d huge scissors hanging
on their necks, were able to open ■
passage.. N
"They succeeded thus In penetrat-
tng to the treathwd profifttif by th*
effects of the surprise produced, at
tempted to enhance their success la
gaining some of the ground In th*
But w* succeeded la
Hshtng ta th* rear c solid barrier aad
the *#rt day a
to a*