Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-16
comoIieation. With sslIiaerents.

Although up to this time nothing
has occurred to strain the relations
between the United States and Eng
land or Germany, the situation has
grown very grave within the past
week, and seems to require the most
delicate and careful consideration that
1t is receiving at the hands Of the
Washington government.
To get at the bare facts in the case,
1t Is just as we'll to recognize that the
struggle has reached a point where
England and Germany are endeavor-
ing to apply to each other the press
ure Of starvation: England having
the advantage Of sea power, COM
menced this policy with the establish
ment of what amounts to a blockade
against all foodstuffs intended for
Germany. At first England conceded
the right of neutrals to sell food to
the German civilian population; but
afterward set up the claim that such
food was being diverted to military
USES anu ulSW ~ Ia o6oAhoS ~AS
shipment of food whatever. Germany
recognizes the right Of England to
prevent the shipment Of food for mil
itary purposes if she can; but insists
that according to the laws Of nations,
she has no right whatever to inter-
fere with the feeding Of the German
civilian population.
Of course it is a clear proposition
that If Germany has only sufficient
food for the army or the non-com-
blatant portion of the population, that
is six of one and a half dozen Of the
other, and whichever is fed from the
outside, the other can be fed from the
inside. And according to the German
view, if England would bring indirect
pressure on the German army by
starving the German civilian popula-
ton, Germany has a perfect right to
retaliate by using such means as may
be in her power to starve the English
civil population.
1t was the situation described that
has brought about the German policy
of establishing danger spots around
the passages to British ports, and
warning the world that all merchant
vessels %venturing into the prescribed
territory are liable to attacks from
submarines. The warning goes on to
set forth that in view of the practice
of using neutral flags for the purposes
of deception, and the. impracticability
Of submarines exposing themselves
under most circumstances, ships may
be sunk without due Identification as
TO their nationality and those that
venture into the danger spots Will dc
so at their own risk.
The United States government has
taken the position that the belligerent
powers had better be more careful
about using the American flag for pur-
poses Of deception, and hat If an
American vessel Is sunk by mistake
or otherwise, the party responsible
will be held to account.
There are In the situation many
complications; but 1t would seem that
the best thing for the United States
to do just now Is to withdraw all ves-
sells from the hostile waters. If an
American vessel is sunk, the proba-
bility is that there will be war, and
in view of the possibility that either
side might sink an American vessel
and blame the act on the other, there
will be no more certainty as to wheth-
er we are right than when we went to
war on account Of the sinking of the
Maine.
According to our view the United
States has the whip handle and If she
will only use 1t in the right manner,
she will win out. The allies cannot
get along without supplies from this
country in the shape Of food, clothing
and munitions Of war. Let this u
try, therefore, say that in view of the
grave danger involved in the situa-
ton, it Is best to withdraw all Ameri-
can ships from belligerent waters,
and cease the shipping Of all supplies
of whatever nature to belligerents,
and then in a few weeks England will
send a proposition like this: IF you
will resume your trade with U.s.. we
will allow you free access to Ger
many" and Germany will also be
willing