The Washington herald., 1915-02-14
GERMAN PRESS VOICES
THREATS AGAINST u. S
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

| that IL the American people believe
/ they can handle the German govern
ment as they desire by pressure and
threats they will fool themselves"
! Count Won Reventlow further assert
ed that the American government itself
would be responsible If an American
vessel were destroyed in the proscrib-
ed areas. which areas OF restriction, he
averred. the German government had a
perfect right to define as a necessary
war measure.
! No protests by the American gov
ernment. said Count Won ReventIow,
could change the conditions that would
prevail after February IS. He took
the view that it would be absurd to
expect a submarine to learn the iden-
tity of a vessel before attacking.
"Drown Women and Children"
The Deutsche MontagszeitunG SAYS that
the destruction of vessels and goods
means only a question Of money to Eng
land and the fight is unequal, for Great
Britain puts in only money against Ger
man men. 1t adds:
Things will be different when British
passengers are drowned. Persons ac-
quainted with the psychology OF England
know that the German blockade will be
effective only II IL costs the lives of many
English women and children"
The kreuZ Ze!tung. commenting on the
seriousness of the situation, says: This
note would amount to a breach of neu-
trality unless America informed Great
Britain that complications of a most Sc
rious character would result from the
misuse of the American flag"
Other newspapers call upon Ger
many to defy openly the demands or
the United States. They declare Grand
Admiral Won Tirpitz's scheme of starv-
ing Great Britain by terrorizing neu-
trail as well as British shipping must
be put into effect. and that II neu-
trails run the risk of the blockade"
1t is their responsibility and not Ger
many's.
Disregard United States"
A submarine boat. says Count Won
Reventlow, who is strongly anti |
American, should no more be expected
to trouble with the question Of the
nationality of vessel than does the I
mine.
Count Won Reventlow calls upon Ger
many to adhere to her program and
disregard whatever the United States .
may do or say. in an article in the /
Tageszeitung. He says:
This marine war zone was announc- !
ed by the German government for the .
very reason that safety OF navigation .
therein cannot be guaranteed. The Ves-
sells of neutrals enter upon this war
zone only at their own risk. !
This condition of affairs and the
it may bring after Feb ,
ruary Is, cannot be changed or in
duenced by any representations or de-
mands from Washington. 1t is also
out OF the question that the identity
Of every ship with neutral flag be
A submarine mine cannot
earn this identity. and such a course
Is equally impossible for a submarine /
boat"
"Americans FOoIInE ThemseIves.o /
In concluding his article Count Won |;
Reventlow says:
THE German declaration in itself must
urnish proof to Americans that the pos
lible destruction OF American ships after 4;
February IS cannot AFFORD the Washing
on government any ground for complaint
II any nature against the German gov
but that the American govern
nent and the shippers themselves must
YEAR the responsibility II they permit
heir vessels to enter this war zone.
I'VE gather the impression here from
expressions reaching. Germany from
Icross the water that IL the American !: