28 SEPTEMBER 1918, Page 3

The first public announcement of Germany's reply to Spain's proposal

to use interned German ships to replace Spanish ships illegally sunk was made by Admiral von Hintze on Tuesday. Germany has refused to give ship for ship, as Spain required. For each ship sunk outside the " barred zone " she will surrender an interned ship for the duration of the war ; for ships sunk in the " barred zone " she will give nothing. Germany has again proposed to issue safe-conducts for Spanish ships, and Admiral von Hintze suggested that Spain was inclined to agree. But France has already warned Spain that ships provided with enemy safe-conducts will be seized. It remains to be seen whether Spain will continue to submit to German " frightfulness," as slightly modified by the German reply.