The Washington times., 1915-02-19

For some reason not known to the
Department of state, the official text
OF the German reply. supposed to have
been delivered to United states Ann
held up In transit.
The last communication received from
the ambassador was dated February H.
1t stated that Gerard had not then re-
At the close Of the Cabinet meeting
one Of the members declared with every
show OF assurance that conditions
were not half a. bad a. feared" He
dechned however. to give any reasons
Postmaster General Burleson stated
that he was anticipating no harm to the
United states mall travelling through
the war zone.
In face Of the apparent determination
On the part Of Germany not to recede
from her position. and in spite Of her
bold disclaimer Of responsibility in case
an American, vessel or American lives
tinued today to express confidence tina,
such a thing would not happen But
callers. including members Of Congress.
who sought to learn the grounds for
this assurance. were given little enligh:-
eminent One member of the Senate.
after leaving the white House. de-
clared that onlv a miracle could snve
the United states from being drawn in
to the war as Z result Of the present
precarious situation in which her com.
merce Is placed.
Part of United States.
Officials have already made up their
minds that. even shou1d the United
states be drawn into the war, the active
participation by this country would be
largely confined to naval assistance in
the blockade Of German ports, the
seizure Of all interned German mer-
chant vessels in American ports. and
the loosening up of the American purse
Tor the assistance Of the allies.
1t Is thought that several OF the best
Greafdnaughts Weafh s IT,, IN the American navy
WoptS sss pc an5 ,o ed et to the
act In conjunction with the allied fleets,
and thus give an additional twist to the
Gnes rse,nsd Of ste steel being thrown around the
experts 1t would mean the beginning OF
the end for Germany.
While Administration spokesmen ap-
eHaraf pear TO take, take comfor tin the statement
note, that no deliberate attempt will he
made by the German submarines to sink
american vessels. members Of Congress
no TN the confidence Of the President
from this statement. is obscured BY the
more sinister assertion by GERMANY Of
inr,,,nS ner mention to scatter floating mines
dt1osnout decros ss the area area prescribed in her
obviously. 1t Is pointed ont, floating
mines could not be expected to exercise
discretion @ regarding the ships they hit,
ana attention was called to the fact to-
GaE that within twelve hours after the
decree went into effect, the Norwegian
steamship Nordcap, flying the flag of a
neutral nation, was sunk by q German
mine in the North sea. And the entire ,
crew pcrished
Specter of Hunger.
On the other hand. there is every in
dication In reports received at the state
Department from United States con-
lar officers in Germany that the Kaiser's
government is beginning to grow des-
peraet before the specter of hunger that
already stalks through many portions
O. O. the empire and Austria Hungary.
many the authorities have been abL- by
Vigorous measures to keep the situation
III hand. but from Austria Hungary
cone disturbing reports Of riots.
ger. that is believed to be at the bot
tom of Germanys reckless challenge, |
It IS even suggested In some quarters
that Germany courts war with the
1,ri 1,nMsd states preferring to have the
United states present In the counsels
or those to whom Germany Will event
nally have to surrender. This view,
however. Is discounted by the friendly
SoiiS VI tic IeT1rlaIl reply.
Asks Suggestions.
One feature of the German note
which has not escaped attention is the
invitation extended to this Government
TO suggest any measures which Ger
many might be able to take to secure
tho safety Of legitimate shipping OF
neutrals in the war zone" But the
note at once adds that all efforts in
this direction may be rendered very
dinicuit by two circumstances: First, |
'he misuse Of neutral flags by British |
merchant vessels. which Is indub,tably |
known to the United States: second |
the contraband alreadw mentioned, es-
ncc1ailE In war materials, on neutral +,
vessels
President Wilson has already gone on |
record as against n prohib tion by this |
country OF the trade Of American mer-
chants in war materials with the al |
lies.
Ensland's reply to the American pro-
rest against the misuse Of the nag {
the United States has not been re-
cciVcd: On this line the Administration |
IS still working. 1t was suggested
cay IN official quarters that the conf |
dence of the Administration that no |
harm is going to come to American |
merchant ships. may be based on some |
hints from England that the flag mat
ter will be settled to the satisfaction |
nj fn1 Gtnto