19 FEBRUARY 1916, Page 3

The Washington correspondent of the Times reported in Tues- day's

paper a curious story that the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations have received' documentary proof that before the war the Germans were trying to acquire rights to build an inter-oceanic canal in Central America, as well as naval bases in Colombia,: Nicaragua, Haiti, and Mole St. Nicolas. The Com- mittee are said to have been informed that the Germans had obtained virtual control Of the Danish island of St. Thomas,. and had achieved political ascendancy in Paraguay, and were: 'in the Cuxhaven raid, when she was attacked' by Zeppelins, trying. to do so also in Chile. There it nothing surprising be; 'and in Admiral' Beattet action. No ship in this war had seen all this. The Germans have never shown the least respect for 'so muehfighting. But the less of the Arethusa.* can be borne the Monroe Doctrine. It was only Mr. Roosevelt's energetic.; ;because the gallant Commodore R. Y. TyrwliItt is safe. He diplomacy in. 1902 which prevented them from invading Vene- , Iwill'still'svveep the seas, and, let us hope, confer honour upon zuela. As the -correspondent :suggests., Germany's attempts to; (ships of other names. We greatly regret to record the loss of the Arethusa,' which was mined- off the East Coast, Twelve men are reported missing and eight injured. No naval name has become more :popular during the war than that of the Arethesa.' A ship -of a new type, she had been commissioned for only a few hours 'when she took part in the battle of the Bight of Heligoland. :She engaged- ships -of superior force and- was badly hammered. 'She retired temporarily to effect repairs, and within an hour or so wan back in action with important German cruisers, of 'which one was the Mainz.' She was towed' back to the Thames, -so -severe were her injuries. She was engaged again