Washington, Feb. 14.
Government quarters here stated that U-boats could legally sink an American ship forced into a British' control port only after it had been ascertained that the vessel's cargo exceeded 50 per cent. contraband destined for Germany's enemies.
Little concern is shown by {the authorities at the statement by Berlin spokesman, defending the sinking of Dutch vessels, and saying that American ships holding the same status would be fair' victims.—Reuter.
U-Boat Campaign Against Neutrals Amsterdam, Feb, 15.
New instructions that mean pitiless warfare on virtually: all neutral vessels have been sent to German submarine commanders, according to news reaching here from Beflin.
The Berlin correspondent of the "Telegraaf," reporting what he was told in the Wilhelmstrasse, formulates the German. standpoint as follows:
"If a neutral ship, homeward bound or bound for a neutral counsry, puts into an enemy port, it will be torpedoed if it has contraband aboard."
The correspondent believes the commander of the submarine which sank the Burgendijk could not have acted oh his owh responsibility, since the action was opposed to all traditions of the German navy. Hence he must have: been acting on instructions amounting to a sort of blank cheque for destruction, 1
Black Prospect veil Germans, according to the corres pondent, say that the British must hold up ships search them at sea, instead of taking them to a control point in the Downs. Dutch ships are thus faced with the prospect of being mercilessly for" pedeed, without explanation, if they enter Britain's sphere of sea control which, practically speaking, extends over the whole world, Theoretically,. American ships touching at Gibraltar are Hable to be torpedoed under this new rule. and feelings in Holland are particularly bitter that Germany persistently picks out small neutrals for attacks and leaves big ones alone.—Reuter.
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