SAILINGS CANCELLED

Take the first consequence of the latest outrage. In this port a large number of steamers had prepared to leave immediately for America to fetch grain and other foodstuffs. On the very eve of departure came the tidings of the fate of seven similar vessels. The sailings were cancelled, the owners of the Association deciding not to allow ships to leave “before the northern route can be regarded as quite safe.” When will that, be? Not, clearly, until the pirates have been driven from the ravaged high sea routes. For, let it be clearly understood that these seven torpedoed steamers left English harbours on the date actually chosen by the German Government. That is a fact which makes this dastardly deed unparalleled even in annuls of Hunnish turpitude and deception.

Alarmed now at the rage kindled, they are trying to wriggle out of a solemn engagement. Yesterday the Embassy at The Hague rushed out a communiqué stating that the owners of these ships had been informed that the vessels could leave English harbours with security, so far as the German submarines were concerned, not later than midnight on Feb. 10, “as, for reasons for which England is responsible, no use could be made of this period Germany was prepared to facilitate their leaving, and so made the concession that the ships could leave either on Feb. 22 or March 17. On the former date they could only be guaranteed comparative security, on March 17 complete security, as before that date not all the German sea forces could have received instructions with certainty.”

Now the statement that the ships were prevented by England from leaving before midnight on Feb. 10 is a cold, calculated lie. The facts are that the owners only received this notice on the afternoon of Feb. 10, at an hour absolutely impossible to make arrangements for the ships to leave before midnight.