el, are declared a war zone on and after February 18, 1915.

Every enemy merchant ship found in this war zone will be destroyed, even
if it is impossible to avert dangers which threaten the crew and
passengers.

Also neutral ships in the war zone are in danger, as in consequence of
the misuse of neutral flags ordered by the British Government on January
31, and in view of the hazards of naval warfare, it cannot always be
avoided that attacks meant for enemy ships endanger neutral ships.

Shipping northward, around the Shetland Islands, in the eastern basin of
the North Sea, and a strip of at least thirty nautical miles in breadth
along the Dutch coast, is endangered in the same way.

_German Navy Official Communication. Berlin, February 4, 1915._

[Illustration]

_ALCOHOLISM--BRITONS NEVER WILL BE SLAVES_

The vast majority belong to a class we can depend upon. The others are a
minority.

But, you must remember, a small minority of workmen can throw a whole
works out of gear. What is the reason? Sometimes it is one thing,
sometimes it is another, but let us be perfectly candid. It is mostly
the lure of the drink. They refuse to work full time, and when they
return their strength and efficiency are impaired by the way in which
they have spent their leisure. Drink is doing us more damage in the war
than all the German submarines put together.

D. LLOYD GEORGE AT BANGOR.
_February 28, 1915._

[Illustration]

_The Crown Prince: "Isn't it an enjoyable war?"_

_William: "Perhaps, but hardly as much so as I anticipated"_

To sum up, the German General Staff has placed upon its record since the
beginning of the campaign--apart from the failure of its great plan,
which aimed at the crushing of France in a few weeks--seven defeats of
high significance, namely, the defeat of the sudden attack on Nancy, the
defeat of the rapid march on Paris, the defeat of the envelopement of
our left in August, the defeat of the same envelopement in November, the
defeat of the attempt to break through our centre in September, the
defeat of the coast attack on Dunkirk and Calais, and the defeat of the
attack on Ypres.

_French Official report, February, 1915._

[Illustration]

_A LETTER FROM THE GERMAN TRENCHES_

"_We have gained a good bit: our cemeteries now extend as far as the
sea_"

The wastage of German effectives is easy to establish. We have for the
purpose two sourc