The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-01
Big TASK TO GUARD
NEUTRALITY OF u. s.
Attacks on American Vessels
and Deaths Of Citizens
Give Rise to Tension.
EXPORTERS HARD HIT

American neutrality seemed Il be a mat
ter Of mere proclamation. This was
done-for the first time on August T.
Since that date no many u%nfriendly
things have been cast up by the torrent
that neutrality has become a matter OF
increasing effort. calling for the coolest
OF statesmsnship
For many years. and even within the
memory OF men still living. II was a
favorite belief that the. United. States
occupied a position Of splendid isola-
ton; that while the tradition fettered
States OF Europe might periodically ny
at one snother's throats. establish and
r~eestablish balances Of power. u was no
concern OF ours. Such was American
theory on August l.. 1914. Then Great
Britain began to seize American ships
and cargoes. Germany sank American
ships with loss OF American lives. then
sank a great passenger steamship. caus-
ing the death OF more than 100 Ameri-
cans. Not only was trade with the
belligerents hampered by contraband
WI anu tNt bthht VOhttrSy VI u
processes. but II became increasingly
difficult to do business ever with neutral
countries. War meant business oppor-
tunity to ONE to others IL meant de-
preston. In some cases ruin and these
were u~nceasing In their ella rnors that
Washington give both ear n aid.
The American people awakened to the
fact that despite their splendid sola-
ton International relations had 30 mul-
tiplisd that Great Britain's personal
quarrel with Germany meant more than
serious discomfort for the United States.
The most serious Of all violations Of
Americas neutral rights was the tor
pedoing on May I VI the Cunard liner
l.usitania, which cost l.l%9 lives includ-
ing ia Americans. other German acts
had occasioned Indignation in his
try. but previous sentiment was as moth
ing when compared with thu popular
amazement and wrath following the az
tack which killed American women and
children as we'll as mon OF such stand
Ing as Alfred GwynD~ Vanderbilt.
Charles Frohmap and Ebert Hubbar I'd.
The published warning" on the day the
Lusitani. sailed was considered In the
light OF an insult. even siggesting that
certsipAerman officials In this country
were accessories bebre The fact" To
the German clairR that the liner Mas
armed and carried war material this
Government replied that even 40. which
II did not admit to De the cass
American citizens hkd the right TO travel
In passenger ships OF their own clsoice
and that v Germany could not wish
and search" vesse,n According - interna-
tioAai law she shouiH net no,sst them.
The axiom OF the law that It Is better
- 1AN vu,nH- umnt1V., .~1.n- 49, A..
punish one innocent man was brought
into direct conflict with Germany's de-
termination 10 u~ her rtost effective
sea weapon in her own way, whatever
the cost. The Lus!tanIa AMIR has been
the subject OF three notes Of protest ad-
dressed TO the Gernap Government.
Neutral Holland inc Switzerland also
made protests.
Three American vessels were De-
stroyed by mines in the North Sea, the
Evelyn on February 81. with a loss OF
one fife. the Garth " days later-ons
OF her men died from exposure--and the
Greenbrfer on April 2. Previously, on
December 30, the G%reenbrier's captain
had besn ordered to haul down the
American nag of the shetland Islands
and hoist the British.
One American was killed on the Brit
ish steamship Faisba. which was tor
pedoed by a submarine on March 2s,
rms 700 was ne occasion OF protest. to
whicn n German reply was THAI in
stead or stopping as commanded the
British skipper tried to escape. thus in
wiling disaster.
German aviators dropped bombs on
the American steamship Cushing on
April % while that vessel. oil laden and
bound for New York to Rotterdam. was
near North Hinder lightship in the
North Sea. the German claim In that
the vessel new no nag. No life was lost.
Inc outright. flying the
American nag. was attacked by a Ger
man submarine on the afternoon OF May
] In the vicinity Of the Scilly Islands.
CAPT Gunter. the shirrs commander. who
died OF heart disease. PREPARATION
to the Gulf Refining Company. owners
or the vessel. was promised.
The American freiEhter skan.
u for Liverpool. was struck by a
torpedo on the night OF May 23. The
vessel was disabled but made port. No
lives were lost. on July IL the Gov
ernWent received Germany's regrets ard
the promise OF compensation Tor what 1t
termed AN unfortunate accident
The william T. Frye, an American
schooner, wns SUNK on January rs by
tne eferhhan sea raiuer' irlhz Eltel
r'ieo'ien' Ahe RYE, wneat Iaoen. was
on ner way W u pr'V'sh port rood
s,uns o,ins Germany
c'a,""'u the Tisht 10 uestroy uoth snip
sf" cargo. ou' TINS Government con
.ena.o 'ha. 'he treaty OF iszs' sun held
,aI.u w oernlnns' proE'ueu tha' sneh
.es''m.,''n sno"'o W, oe nhaue FRO,
'oSl ""S "'a'e nnu Nerina"s profnised
S".n ,,."s,o A'"e s0"' proeee"'"sS
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