The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-12-31
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES

| with many serious problems Whicn
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 IL intended for
noncombatants, and, two days later
Germany declared the waters around
Great Britain and Ireland to be a war
zone, and announced her purpose to
destroy every enemy merchant vessel
discovered therein. Neutrals we're
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
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 IL the
British would permit the sending OF
food touhe civilian population OF Ger
many. On the same day, the British
government seized the American ship
Wilhelmina, bound for 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 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 Gulfight was
sunk off the Scilly islands by Ger
man submarine.
Destruction Of the lusitania.
On May Z, the big transatlantic liner
Lusitania was sunk by German sub
marine off the coast OF Ireland. with
loss of nearly 1900 lives including
upwards of hundred Americans. On
May 13 the United States protested
against the German submarine policy
and declared its intention OF main
tanning the rights of American citi-
zens. On May 25 the American steam
er Nebraskan was seriously damaged
by a torpedo off 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 statement 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 Gulflight had been sunk
| by a German submarine whose CAP
tain failed to recognize the American
flag.
On June s Secretary OF State Will
l.m ]. Bryan resigned his Office to
| avoid signing second note of pro-
test to Germany against submarine in
terferenc7 with merchant ships. On
| the follow ing day this note was sent
| a..d 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 of the coast OF
southern England and a number OF
| Americans in the crew lost their lives.
On July s Germany replied to the
second Washington note regarding
the submarine war against merchant
ships, promising safety to United
States ships in the war zone IL specif-
ically marked, and suggesting that the
American flag be placed on four hos
tile steamers for the safe transporta-
tion OF Aua~ican passengers.
More Diplomatic Notes.
On July 81 the United States sent q
third note to Germany, with the state
ment that the German reply to a for
mer note had been very unsatisfac-
tory" and that a repetition OF the
acts complained OF would be regarded
as deliberately unfriendly." On Aug.
ust several notes from Great Brit
ain concerning interference with Amer
lean trade I'm the war zone were
made public. In which II was
claimed that Great Britain was do
ing nothing in violation Of interna-
tional law. In the case Of the William
p. Frye, an American ship sunk by
the Prins Eitel Friedrich, January 2s,
Germany agreed to furnish Indemnity.
and the United States accepted the