New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-14
GERMAN-AMERlCAN MENACE
A Serious Discussion of Contempt
rary Problem.

To The Editor or no tribune.
Sir: Tho c,rcum Stantlal report IN your
columns Of the uttcrances and actions OF
certain hv7ho1atod Americans IN various Ger
n,en restaurants i'm this city on the night OF
+he announcement Of the sinking Of the Lusi-
80 .o,.~,.s ,rbo. sbovld bo a crave and ur-
'"''' 49,. ~.
'''
Try.
Severa! months ago on the first reported IN
stances Of the torpcdoing Of British mer-
chant vessels by German submarines the
writer. IN conversation with several friends
rrc4,c,o3 .lc ~sri5 DEVELOPMENT Of the policy
-. -. - ,,,4..,+o1v bIovvirr m IN
.,.:. ,.assoroe-
''""S' '"' -. -.
steamers ana mo drowning "''"o". mp
ton O. innocent Hon-'.iH' ''''',S GA "0'. -
Is and every age. This prediction was oaseu
on pcrusal of the various doctrines OF what
nav be called German national thought as
We have had them cNpoundcd in the utter
1nccs and writings Of German authorities OF
the present day. In view Of the startling
fulflmcct OF this prediction, which was some
what skcTtica,'y regarded at the time and
without !n the least incu!glng any preten-
sion Of prophetic foresight beyond that OF
any sensible person. hut speaking from the
plain and evident meaning Of these doctrines
which everyone may read, .: may not be ai'l'SS
20 here see down some ilrther thingS "H'0''
we may expect and witness IN short time
These are:
The inauguration OF state OF feennS De.
tween this country and Germany WHICH, i
not leading 70 an actual declaration or war
and a state Of nominal belligerency under
which European commerce under our own
flag can be freely torpedoed, VIII nj ieAs'
~. ed 60 EOS 80
70 take steps toward commHndeer.ng the am
munit.on now belng mahulo0'uieu 1O' Wv
Allies in this country as a necessary PR
caution for our own possible heeoS unUe' 'i''
well known shortage OF our own resources IN
this particular. Il VIII be recalled that GreAV
Britain TOOK precisely this action IN me case
Of two Turkish battleships bu.aing IN her
yards while still az peace with IurAeY. AS
Stunning that, for any reason ms cannot Oe
brought about, IN the circumstances OF our
present contracts tAtfe Is never ."''eos e''
dent the fact thHt ID 'he event o. "0S''I''.,
between TINS co-htr! ana eIl-'"! VIC 80
lot under year oring 20 pear upon Htt any
decree Of organized and equipped military
force Of which she need take the SHghteS'
present notice, the naval situation abroad De-
ing what il is and our feet q useless aug
mentation Of the Allies present naval pre-
ponOerarce IN this circumstance. curing
this time Germany can impose peace upon
her European enemies through the oep!euoH
Of their ammunition and supplies there can
be 10 doubt she would gladly exchange the
present situation for the prospect Of after
ward facing US alone with her navy sun IN
tact and an enormous army, saying come
across il YOU dare" In practical TACT any
state Of bc.hgercncy inaug1Ia'ed al thls time
with US would he purely nominal But under
II let us see what might happen:
ANusion has been made 70 the torpedoing
n American ships freely as enemy vessels.
This not being likely Of itself TO sufficiently
avail. We have next the dynamiting Of our
ammunition plants and the blowing up and
y-rccking of our railroad trains bearing their
products and other supplies 10 our seaPorts
for shipment. II this does not suihce, then
the assas> nation Of the heads OF our lndus-
trial companies engaged in this traihc. Il
this does not Go IL, then an indlscrlmnate
,,r,roie-7 Of secret violence and terrorism
- - r,oo,rn oenerelv RELYING in all
,'-o-.io, of tho German
- -. -, o1oroont e., our nopula-
90 CO.. he t-1,sted 70 engineer this and
-. ,.l,.b .bo orgarize5 Federal Secret
- s-5 toc,l ,cIico ererci.s would be
- ;r.IecYs.o for tho time being. No
eroloov necessarily controverting this is pre-
- a., the evDeriencs so far of England,
r.o-co aud other countries. under the fact
49, mr. 20 tber have the same enormous
,@Is.,yo rronor+ion Of alien population and
that their secret services and national police
fac,ljties we're adequate in system and extent
20 suppress az the outset any extensive eff