The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-06-01

lowing from the CoiuihDid O'"eS
closely expresses American senti-
ment:
Germany's UnrespOnsiye Reply
The diplomatic situation between
Washington and. Berlin is strained, |
rather than relieved, by the German
note.
Apart from formal regret for un-
intentional attacks on the American
ships Gulfiight and Cushing, not one
of the demands, so carefully put up
by President Wilson in the form of
assumptions as to German purpose, is
met.
There is no assurance that Ger
many will discontinue its policy as
shown in the use of submarines in the
destruction of the Lusitanfa with ut
ter recklessness of the loss of life;
there is not even the promise of rep
aration to the families of the victims
of that disaster; Germany, called to
task, attempts to shift the issue.
The issue can not be shifted.
The issue is now plain, to this ex-
tent, at least; that Germany. has ac-I
knowledged that in the sinking of the
Lusitania it acted with fore-knowl-
edge of the fact that there were
many innocent passengers, including
Americans, on board; that the sub
marine was proceeding within the
scope of its orders from the admir-
atty; that the question of whether
similar acts will be committed in the
future is one that is not contingent
on Germany's regard for the old
rules of humane warfare, but on
whether or not the terrorism arising
from violation of those rules shall
or shall not sufficiently intimidate
Great Britain as to cause her to mod
ify her policy of interference with
commerce destined for Germany.
These acknowledgements are plain
ly inferred from the following points
in the German note:
The contention that the Lusitania
was an auxiliary cruiser, mounting
two guns; that she was carrying sol
diers, explosives in violation of Am
erican law, and war supplies; that it
is desirable to show what action the
United States has been able to per-
suade Great Britain to agree to in
the way of relaxation of her blockade
and orders in council in return for a
suspension of submarine warfare as
outlined by Germany in the decree
establishing a war zone. In addition,
with an appeal to the barest techni-
cality that is heartless in its sugges-
tiveness of the purpose that lay be-
hind the destruction of the Lusitania,
it is suggested that the question
whether passengers and crew were al
lowed time to be placed in safety de-
ponds upon an inquiry as to whether
or not the Lusitania was properly
equipped with lifeboats and bulk
heads.
All of which is utterly beside the
spirit, the inquiry and the demand of
the original American representa-
ton.
It is clear that the Lusitania could
not be an auxiliary cruiser until COM
missioned and armed. 1t is clear, as
established before the dispatch of the
United States note, that she was not
armed and did not carry explosives
within the meaning of the American
statute. It is clear that she was de-
stroyed without warning by a nation
which now directly admits the act
and the intent, and that, as a result,
innocent American lives were sacri-
feed.
1t is therefore clear that the issue
remains as it arose to the mind at
the time of the dispatch of the presi-
dents note, with no change except
as it is more sharply defined; and
since the dispatch of that note the
Nebraskan has been torpedoedl
1t is useless to consider the conten-
ton that American rights should be
trafficked in by the United States ac-
cording to bargain which may OF
may not be entered into by Great
Britain as third party. The issue
is between the United States and Ger
many. It is nearly four weeks since
the Lusitania was sunk, and fom
weeks is sufficient cooling time fol-
sudden passion. It is, however, tins
for the Capitalization of sentiment o.
a far sterner and more determined
character than the sense of suddeI
outrage and shock We may conf
IDENTIFY expect that the next note tina
goes from Washington will be of
kind to sweep aside as immaterial t,
the American contention every sid
issue and irrevelant argument pu
forth by Germany. When the answe
to that note comes, we shall know
better where we stand and the de
gree of indifference to the FRIENDSHIP
of the world to which the desperation
of Germany has attained.
The Maine was blown up on Feb
ruary Is, but it was only in the las
days Of April that hostilities com