The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-12-31


coma, bound for New York, was sunk
by a submarine flying the Austrian
flag on November 8. More than hun
dred passengers we're killed including
several Americans The United States I
made vigorous demand on Austria to |
disavow the act and punish the com
mander of the submarine
On December Is the British war Of !
flee announced that Gen Sir Douglas |
Haig had superseded Field Marshal !
Sir John French as British commander |
in France and Flanders.
Strictly neutral as mas been the pol
icy elected by this country, the gov
ernment has been brought face to face |
with many serious problems which |
have arisen from the conduct of the |
European war One of these was the |
seizure and detention by Great Britain
of vessels carrying American goods to
neutral ports in Europe A protest
was made by Washington and on jan
uary 10 Great Britain replied by Of |
fering reasonable redress for any mis- |
take of that nature.
Early in February, Great Britain de-
cided to seize grain and flour ship |
ments to Germany even if intended for |
noncombatants, and, two days later, |
Germany declared the waters around |
Great Britain and Ireland to be war
zone, and announced her purpose to
destroy every enemy merchant vessel
discovered therein. Neutrals were
warned of the danger sure to follow.
On February 6, the Atlantic liner Lusi-,
tania made the passage from New
York to Liverpool flying the American
flag as a protection against hostile
submarines. On February 10, the
United States sent notes to Germany
and Great Britain concerning Ameri-
can shipping in the war zone. Ger
many was warned against committing
a breach of the rules of naval warfare
and Great Britain was reminded that
serious consequences might follow the
use of the American flag by British
vessels On February 16, Germany of.
fered to withdraw from her crusade
against British merchant ships If the
British would permit the sending OF
food to the civilian population Of Ger
many. On the same day the British
government seized the American ship
Wilhelmina, bound for a German port
with wheat for civilian consumption.
The German note in reply to the
American protest against the subma-
rine blockade disclaimed all RESPONSE
bility. Great Britain affirmed its in
tention to send the Wilhelmina to a
prize court. In replies to inquiries
from the Washington government
neither Germany nor Great Britain
showed any disposition to recede from
the positions already announced. On
April II, the German ambassador pro-
tested to the state department against
the attitude Of the United States to-
ward the shipment of war materials
and British treatment of American
trade with Germany. On May l the
American oil carrier Gulflight was
sunk of the Scllly islands by Ger
man submarine.
Destruction OF the Lusitania.
On May Z, the big transa tlantic liner
Lusitania was sunk by German sub
marine of the coast of Ireland, with
loss of nearly 1900 lives; including
upwards of a hundred Americans. On
May 13 the United States protested
against the German submarine policy
and declared its intention Of main
tanning the rights of AmericAa citi-
zens. On May 25 the American steam
er Nebraskan was seriously damaged
by a torpedo of the south coast of
Ireland. On May 2S the German reply
to the United States note Of protest
in regard to the submarine policy in
the so-called war zone" was received.
Final staAeAent of the German posi-
ton was reserved until common ba-
sis of fact as to the status of the Lusi-
tania should be established. On May
81 Germany made official announce
ment that the Gulilight had been sunk
by German submarine whose cap
tain failed to recognize the American
flag.
On June 8 Secretary of State Will
liam ]. Bryan resigned his office TO
avoid signing a second note OF pro
test to Germany against submarine in
terference with merchant ships. On
the following day this note was sent
and assurances were asked that in fu-
ture American ships and lives should
be safeguarded. On June % the Brit
| ish government sent an official note
to the American ambassador explain
ing efforts made to protect neutral.
shipping. On June 2S the British
steamer Armenian was destroyed by
a German submarine off the coast of.
southern England and a number of.
Americans in the crew lost their lives.
On July Germany replied to the.
second Washington note regarding
the submarine war against merchant
snins, promising safety to &lnitedi
Staaes ships in the war zone if specif-i
ically marked, and suggesting that the
American flag be placed on four hos
tile steamers for the safe Transports
tion of American passengers.
More Diplomatic Notes.
On Iuiv 81 the limited States sent a