The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-07-29
NOTE FULL OF DYNAMITE
Observers Take Military ACtiv-
ib to Indicate That Admin
iStration Regards Sit
uation Gravely.
PLAY RESPONSIBLE ROLE
Claim America Has Undertaken
to Uphold International Law
and Neutral Rights and
Cannot Back Down.

Washington. ID. c., July 27.-The feel
ing in Washington thai the crisis In
this eountry's relations with Germany
is drawing close at hand is pronounced
today.
The finality Of tone In the new note
is In part responsible for this senti-
ment. The evidences of resentment in
a large section of the German press
over the attitude taken by this govern
ment Ia likewise responsible in part.
Still another element is the aggres-
sivc renewal of submarine warfare by
the undersea boats OF Won Tirpitz. It
looks as II II would not be long until
II becomes known whether this war
Is to be carried on with due respects for
the rights OF neutrals.
Military Plans Important.
A fourth and by no means ~uninport-
ant factor in impreSsing Washington
with the gravity OF conditions is the
new move Of the administration to give
attention to the lack OF preparedness
Of the nation.
Although this is not officially
ascribed 70 the clouded international
horizon in the direction OF the other
rN0G W III A 4 IA aoCiA NY
well informed public men. Although
the administsatio has delayed taking
eogn.zance of the utter inacequacy of
the military forces of the country and
of the needs OK the navy In many par
t%iculars, II is considered here that the
beIated declfion TO take the problem up
points clea~ir TO appreciation OF the
dangerous possibilities in the present
international complications, more eS-
pecially in the Mexican and German
difficulties. 81
High officials do not disguise the fact
that they see small warrant for optim-
ism at this time. Not that they are
talking, on the other hand, in a pessi-
mistic vein. >' .....
Still Hopeful, However.
They have a certain measure of hope
fitness that Germany win take h long
headed course and proceed on the
theory that such slight military ad-
v~antages as it's submarines may gain
by sinking merchant ships without
visit and search or warning would be
an absurd compensation for lining this
country up with its enemies.
They have not much doubt that IL
the German foreign office and the kali
ser are allowed to follow their bent
this course will be taken. but they are
apprehensive that Won Tirpitz n the
wal party will swing tho scales to the
other side of the proposition.
Some dispatches indicate Germany
will transmit another reply without
much delay. Officials are without d.
rect information n this point. AS a
matter of fact they are more concerned
over how the German submarines actu-
ally conduct themselves toward mer-
chant sniFs, and. especially, passenger
ships carrying Americans, than they
are over the next diplomatic response.
Last Stand Taken.
w 90 l.
studied and discussed n the more the
neutral rights problem Is pondered In
all its phases. the more clearly II is
perceived hat this government a ia
ken the last stand In defense of inter-
national law at sea.
II Germany disregards the American
protestations n IL this country per
mits that defiance to go sharply, posi-
lively aud adequately unchallenged,
ever. that n could not ADMIT that the
destruction OF the Frye was a violation
Of the treaty. On the contrary" said
Berlin. article 1S expressly reserves
TO the party at war the right to stop
the carrying of contraband and to de-
tain the contraband; IL follows then
that IL 1t cannot be accomplished In
any other way. the stopping of the
supply may. In the extreme cause, be
affected by the destruction Of the ship
carrying 1t. As a matter of course, the
obligation OF the party at war to pay
compensation TO the interested persons
OF the neutral contracting party re-
mains In force whatever be the manner
of stopping tho supply"
The United States; as late as June "a,
replied that "The government of the
United States cannot concur in this
conclusion" sr'
The case If the Lelanaw, it was in
dicated by officials would be argued
along tho same lines, as soon as an Of
ncial report was received. Saving of
tho lives OF the crew, they thought,
could not aIiay the Keeling of the Amer
lean government that Germany had not
only violated international law, In the
Scase OF Americans travelling on unre-
slsting merchantmen, but had four
times. In the present war, violated a
treaty OF nearly a century's standing
ernment considers that the American
ships, Gulflight and Nebraskan, which
We're torpedoed without warning, the
William p. Frye and the Leelanaw
should hav been immune from violence
OF any kind.
The Leelanaw was owned by the Lee
lanaw Steamship company, of New
York. She was formerly called the
Earnwell. She was $50 feet long and
OF 1924 gross tons. She left Galveston
May 8 and New York May II with a
cargo of cotton for ArchangeL. Early in
June she was detained by the British
authorities at Kirkwall. This action
was taken because her cargo, although
destined for Russia, was consigned by
way of ~Gothenburg, Sweden, which
country forbids the expert of cotton.
Having discharged her cargo at
Archangel 1t Is evident that the Lee
lanaw was returning from Archangel
when she was sunk. . - $50.
An official statement Of the German
government, issued April Is. 1916, set
Forth that a is contraband Of a