Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-12-31
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES


have arisen from the eondact OF the
European war. One OF these was the
seizure end detention ~ Great britain
Of vessels carrying American goods 70
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 seiEe gain and -four ship
ments 20 Germany even II intended for
noncoubatants. and. two days later.
Germany declared the waters around
Great Britain and Irelsnd to be a war
zone. and announced her purpose to
destroy every enemy merchant vessel
discovered therein. Seutrals were
warned Of the danger sure TO follow.
On February &. the Atlantic liner Lust
tSuia made the passage from New
York TO Liverpool flying the American
nag as a protection against hostile
submarines. On February 10. tho
United States sent notes to Germany
and Great Britain concerning Ameri-
can shipping In the var 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 rs. Germany Of
fered TO withdraw from her crusade
against British merchant ships II tie
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
bflity. Great Britain affirmed its IN
tentiOn to send the Wflheltdina TO a
prize court In replies 10 inquiries
from the Washington government.
neither Germany nor Great Britain
showed any disposition TO recede from
the Positions already announced. On
April IL, 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 / the
American oil carrier Gulhight was
sunk OF the Sciuy islands by a Ger
man submarine
Destruction % the Iusitania.
On May Z. the big transatlantic liner
Lusttania was sunk By German sub
marine OF the coast OF ireland. with
8 loss OF nearly 1900 lives: including
OF q hundred Americans On
May 13 the United States protested
against the German submarine policy
and declared rs intention OF main
tanning the rights OF American citi-
Esns- On May IS the American steam
sr SebTaskan was seriously damaged /
By a torpedo OF the south coast OF
ireland On May IS the German reply
10 the United States note OF protest
In regard 10 the submarine policy in
the so-cslled war zone was received. I
Final statement OF the German post |
ton was reserved until a common bz- /
sis OF fact as to the status OF the Lusi- I
iania should be established. On May /
81 Germany made Official announce
Tuent that the Guiflght had been sunk |
By q German Submarine whose cap
tain failed TO recognize the American
flag.
On June Secretary Of State wIl. |
liam j. Bryan resigned his Office to /
avoid signing 3 second note OF pro- I
test 70 Germany against submarine in |
terferencs with merchant ships On /
the following day this note was sent
and Assurances were asked that fn'fu- 1
ture American ships and lives should I
be ssfeEuarded- On June % the Brit I
!sh Eprsruuert sent IN Official note 4
10 the American ambassador explain |
ing eSorts made 10 protect neutral /
shiprinE On June % the British |
steamer Armenian was destroyed By |
= German submarine OF the coast Of |
southern England and q number OF 4
N the crew lost their livss
On JIly Germany replied to the
1A--AA4 " AAlA-- 1+A4-- lRA- AE-84A4--A
the submarine var against merchant
ships. promising safety TO United
States ships in the war zone II specif.
lcaIly marked. and suggesting that the
American Gag b placed on four hos
tile steamers for the safe transpoEta-
ton Of American passengers.
More Diplomatic Notes-
On July 81 the United States sent q
third note to Germany. with the state
ment that the German reply 20 a for
neF note had been very unsztisfae-
tory" snd that a repetition OF the
acts complained Of would bs regarded
"A deliberately unfrfendly~ On Aug
1st several notes from Great Brit
sin concerning tnterfereace with Amer
Ic4n trade IN the war Eone were
made public. In which Il was
claimed that Great Britain was do
ng nothing IN violation Of interna,
Itonal lAw. In the e2se Of the william
p frye. an American ship sunk by
A. Dwfm~ Uas.r n~f~1-a.A