Evening star., 1915-03-13
DEFENDS GOVERNMENT
SHIP PURCHASE BILL
Senator Walsh Believes Americans
Would Remain Calm Even if U. S.
Vessels We're Destroyed.
Cites Sinking of the William P. Frye
by German Raider as Showing
Temperament of the Public.

| a defense of the administration ship
purchase bill. in the light of the sink
! ing of the William P. Frye by the Ger
man raider. the Prinz Eitel Friedrich,
| and the calm manner in which the re-
port of that action has been received
i'll the United States, was made in an
interview today by Senator Walsh of
Montana.
The tinlid. not TO say timorous.
statemen who fear that grim visa ged
war would he upon if Il ship pur-
chased by our government from a sub
ject of q belliserent nation under the
Alexander ship bill. were ii to become
law. should be seized by an enemy,
ought to be quieted to some extent, at
least, by the manner in which infor
| nation e the sinking Of the William F.
Frye has been received, said Senator
Walsh
When il was shown that the au-
thorities of Cirent Britain must repu-
diate q policy to which she has given
her adherence for over hundred years
TO justify the capture of such Il ship
and that her ally. France, had in prac-
/ tice abandoned her ancient position on
the Subject-in other words, that we
have a perfect right under the rules OF
International law to buy the ships of
belligerent nations. as they bought ours
! that, however clear our right might be,
and perhaps because 1t was clear, such
Il seizure would intane the public mind
to such an extent that the hot-tenlpered
and impatient nepheWs and nieces of
! Uncle Sam would rush headlong into
war for reparation instead Of pursu-
ing the orderly procedure through the
courts and diplomatic channels.
Borders on War, He Says.
"A German raider has entered one OF
our ports and coolly announced that
| she had sunk an American ship bound
| with cargo of wheat from Seattle TO
Queenstown. If this is not AN act of
war il is AN aggression that borders
so closely upon il the ordinary mind
does not readily grasp the distinc-
tion. The reason assigned for this
high handed procedure is that the car
go was contraband.
Because England has treated wheat
destined for Germany as contraband
that power protested to the world and
offers such conduct AS justifica tion for
declaring the waters about the United
Kingdom as a war zone and for the
incidents that have characterized her
submarine warfare, including the
sinking Of peaceful merchantmen and
the destruction of the lives of their
non -combatant crews and passengers.
While more dramatic in character. the
invasion of the rights as neutrals by
the allies has been less pronounced and
far more destructive.
The American people have remained
reasonably calm, however, over the
episode of the Frye, as they have
borne with infinite patience the re-
suits Of the paper blockade so far
as they have been developed, of the
two chief beiligerents. II is assumed
that Germany viii eventually pay for
the ship the Eitcl Friedrich sent to the
bottom. and perhaps her cargo. too. No
one appears to be alarmed lest war
should be declared upon Germany
l. ithout inquiry attempt to secure
redress, and yet the affront to the flag,
if affront there be, is az great as
though it foated over government
property. People band themselves into
nations among other reasons, that
every citizen may have the protection
of the combined strength of all against
the aggression OF IA foreign power.
Thinks u. S. Would Be Calm.
The flag :, ship flies is at once L
claim on her part and an assurance
when rightfu!iy- borne that she is en-
| titled To tho protection of the nation
! whose cusblcm it is As we remain
cain, in th. face OF the sinking of the
| Frye in which the government is in
| terested to the extent of S11.550 in
surance. as the seizure of the Dacia
gave rise to no ripple even, does it not
seem likely that our warlike spirits
could nave been repressed If govern
ment vessel engaged In commerce
were, in the same manner brought
before q prize court?
eft is a little unfortunate for those
| Who sought to excite these fears that
! in so far as they have been successful
/ they played the game of the greed!
! shipping interests, foreign and domes-
tie that are pra acticinS eXtortioH upon
. q War-vasted world
: ">;nould the war zone program De as
s;Icreaaful rs the Germans nope 10
make it. and all English ships be driven
, to cover as those of Germany nave
| iigercnt ships will become painfully
annarent Likewise tho patriotism of
those who. to meet the eSigenG'es ,nta-i that
| cont;nue to contend that we have
thrown away this inestimabie right
will not shine with particularly daz-
zling luster."