The Ocala evening star., 1915-02-16
GREAT BRITAIN's POSITION
AND GERMANY's GRIEVANCE

ands. Nobody except the Germans
know how well prepared they may be {
10 make such a blockade effective. j
Great Britain, while claiming the {,
threat is a bluff, is plainly uneasy;
and from what Germany has already
done it is doubtful if the warning
would have been issued if it had moth
ing but bluff behind it.
The blockade of Germany now in
force by Great Britain and France
and Russia is a legitimate war meas
ure. It is what the people of the
South had to. submit to fifty years
ago: the difference being only that
the South was far more self-sustain- |
ing than any European country, and
the blockade would not have succeed
ed if 1T hadn't been assisted by lnvas-
ion in overwhelming force. The hrst
measure put in force by the United
States against Spain in 1898 was
blockade that would have starved out
the Spanish army and all the Cuban
cities If the war had continued long
enough.
The style of blockade that Ger
many proposes to put in force has not
been recognized as legitimate; 1t
cannot be carried out without whole
sale slaughter of non-combatants.
possibly of neutrals as well as men OF
the nations at war with Germany.
The Germans, however, ever since
this war broke have shown deter
rnination to be law unto themselves
and set aside all rules laid down by
other nations when they confiicted
with their aims. Also, it must be con-
ceded that IL their people are in dan
Ger of starvation, it need not be Won
dered that they consider themselves
justified in doing anything that may
save their women and children, not to
speak of their fighting men, from
perishing. The specter OF famine is
qrisly one-when it hovers over ma
fion Of seventy million people, no man
need wonder If the people of that ma
ton are willing to dynamite all the
rest Of the world to drive the demon
away.
we, the people of America, do not
want the Germans to starve. Ii they
came to that point, we would exert ev-
erv resource at our command for their
relief. We are feeding hundreds OF
thousands in Belgium, and the people
of Germany are more our own XIII
than the people of Belgium. IT the
iron grip of starvation is ever lalo
upon them, the Americans are goIne
to be more concerned than any Other
people. -
people of Britain starved or the sail
ors that man their merchant ships
drowned by wholesale. Such mis-
fortune to the nation which of all th'
world is the most closely connected t.
us would throw a shadow of horro
over our own land and awaken a bit
terness against Germany that tift.
years could not dispel. 1t would max
America sure that her turn woul'
come next and cause her to begin t.
prepare for the inevitable struggle:
As matters are now, with no wis
tD offend either side, and most sin
cere desire to keep out of the conflict
we stand an excellent opportunity t
suffer almost as much as a nation a
war. The allies have already cause
us an immense amount of trouble an
loss BY restrictions which we are no
able to induce them to relax by any
thing short Of war. And yet tn
trouble is not great enough to justlf
us in going TO that extremity. Bu
this latest issue may reach propol
tions that would cause any nation bu
At present, each side is trying
use America as catspaw to rake il
chestnuts out of the fire. Great Bri
ain hoists our flag over her merchar
ships, in the immediate hope that
will protect them, and probably in til
distant hope that if Germany disr,
CARDS the symbol, and blows up a
American ship, either by accident {
intention, our people may retaliate
way that will add to Germany's di
hcnlties, if indeed they do not go
many is plainly trying to force tt
ain lifting the blockade on supple
for non-combatants.
AS a matter of fact, there are r
non-combatants, except the babies,
Germany The old men, the wome
and all the children above the age
tOddlers are striving to aid the me
on the fighting lines. The German
proclaim and glory in this fact.
una trey need not wonder if the allies al
trying to put upon them such pre-
sure as was never put upon a natic
before.
The desperate effort that the Ge
mans are making to induce Gre;
Britain to lift the blockade and il
Volve the United States is very il
consistent with their professions tn;
they are sustaining and amp
supplied with food. 1t gives rise
suspicion that they are nearer Il
end Of their resources than anyboc
had suspected.
"A year ago, very few people wou
have believed that extreme measur
were possible between two such hig
ly civilized and reasonable nations
America and Germany Today, \
cannot say anything is impossib
Reason, policy and friendship ha
melted in the red crucible of war, al
the common instincts of humani
may follow them before this year
over. Our government has annour
"a that II viii not tolerate even t
accidental blowing up of Americi
sRifrik. Tt cant prevent the ships
fk&Sn. Germany OF any other natl
from hosting the American flag.
rnfiIiot po to any extreme measun
with Great Britain over the blocka
nf GarTl6lSiVs and IL Germany cam
abIish bona iide blockade ct Gre