The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1915-02-12
u. S. WARN LONDON
AND GERMANY
AGAINST VIOLATION OF RIGHTS OF SEA.
THIS NATION WILL HOLD BELLGER
ENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR ACT CAUS-
ING INJURY TO ANY OF ITS CITIZENS.
ARMIES STILL FIGHTING HARD FOR
GAINS.

Washington, Feb. 11.-Germany
must answer to the United States, If.
through the enforcement of her war
zone decree, American vessels or
American lives are destroyed.
Should such a thing come to pass
by reason Of the continued use OF the
American flag by British merchant
vessels, Great Britain, too, will be
held to measure of accountability
This is the answer of the United
States to the steps taken by Germany
and Great Britain in the battle be-
tween the two latter nations for the
control Of the channels OF commerce
The texts OF the notes to both na-
tions were made public at the State
Department late this afternoon Both
are direct and to the point, indicat-
Ing plainly that the United States has
every intention of protecting its
commerce, and refuses to accept the
views of either nation that the action
of one is made necessary by the ac-
ton of the other.
In the note to the Kaiser's Govern
ment, the United States plainly gives
warning that any attack made by q
German war vessel ON an American
merchantmen will BE- committed AZ
Germany's peril; that the United
States will not accept as an excuse
that the attack was made on the
mere suspicion that the merchant yes
sci was a British ship sailing under
( false colors.
In the note to Great Britain, Sec
retary Bryan does not hesitate tt
deny the claim put forth by thu
British Admiralty that the use Of th'
American Oh other neutral flags b.
British ships under present circum
stances Is justiflable. Reminding tn,
British Foreign Office OF the an
nouncement by Germany that she in
tends to engage in active naval op
erations within certain area O
! war zone, the United States firmly in
sists that British ships should not b.
permitted to use the American fla,
in this area, "since such practic
would greatly endanger the vessel
Of friendly power navigating thos
waters, and would seem to impos
upon the Government OF Great Brit
aim a measure OF responsibility TO
the loss OF American lives and vessel
In case of an attack by German
naval force"
Latest War News.
From Petrograd it is reported tina
the Germans have evacuated tn
Polish city of Lodz, which they cap
tured in December.
VI An official statement at Berlin re
ports results in East Prussian from
tier engagements altogether salts
factory" to the Germans.
"A heavy bombardment OF Nieupor
by German artillery, and an attac
by German infantry against tn
iearth-Works of Marie Therese, il
IArgonne, are reported by the Frencl
War Office, which says the infantr
attack broke down under the fire Q
French artillery.
Violent artillery action in Alsacs
according to a dispatch from Genevs
has caused an exodus of German fam
lilies from Muehlhausen, Kolmar an
Strassburg. |
An attempt by German subma
rine to sink the British steame
Laertes of the Dutch coast ID report
ed in a dispatch from YmuideI
Netherlands. This dispatch state
that the steamer, when attacked, wa
flying the Dutch flag.
The American steamer Wilhelm
mas cargo of food-stuffs, consigne
to Germany w i seized by the Britis
authorities at Falmouth and will b
sent to q prize court.