The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1915-02-20
us. SENDS WARNING
GREAT BRITAIN AND GERMANY
TOLD TO KEEP HANDS
OFF FLAG.
WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE
Note Sent to Powers BY Secretary Of
state Bryan Gays They viii Be Held
TO Strict Account for Any Loss Of
American Lives.

'
American Lives.
Washington, Teb. 13.-Notes sent to
Great Britain and Germany and made
public by the state department on
Thursday indicate the possibility Of Q
crisis in the efforts of the United
States government to maintain neu.
trality toward the European belliger-
ents.
The secretary OF state has instruct
ed Ambassador Gerard at Berlin to
present to the German government q
note to the following effect:
THE government Of the United
States, having had It's attention direct.
ed to the proclamation Of the German
admiralty issued on February 4. that
the waters surrounding Great Britain
and Ireland. including the whole Of the
English channel, are to be considered
as comprised within the seat OF war;
that all enemy merchant vessels found
in those waters after the 18th inst will
be destroyed, although It may not al
ways be possible to save crews and
passengers, and that neutral vessels
expose themselves to danger within
this zone of war because. In view of
the misuse OF naval flags said to have
been ordered by the British govern
ment on January 81. and Of the con-
tingencies OF maritime warfare, It may
not be possible always to exempt neu-
trail vessels from attacks intended to
strike enemy ships, feels 1t to be Its
duty to call the attention OF the Inn
perial government, with sincere re-
spect and the most friendly senti-
ments, but very candidly and earnest
ly, to the very serious possibilities OF
the course Of action apparently contem-
plated under that proclamation.
THE government Of the United
States views those possibilities with
such grave concern that It feels It to
be its privilege, and. indeed. its duty
In the circumstances. to request the
imperial German government to con-
slider before action IL taken the critical
situation in respect Of the relation be-
tween this country and Germany which
might arise were the German naval
forces, in carrying out the policy fore
Swallowed In the admiralty's proclama-
ton. to destroy any merchant vessel
of the United States or cause the
death OF American citizens.
Ito declare or exercise right to at.
tack and destroy any vessel entering q
prescribed area of the high seas with.
out first certainly determining its bel
ligerent nationality and the contra
band character OF its cargo would be
an act so unprecedented In naval war
fare tl1at this government is reluctant
to believe that the imperial govern
ment OF Germany in this case contem-
plates II as possible.
IF the commanders OF German YES.
sells OF war should act upon the pre-
sumption that the nag of the United
States was not being used In good
faith and should destroy on the high
seas an American vessel or the lives
Of American citizens. It would be dif.
fcult for the government Of the United
States to view the act IN any other
light than as an indefensible viola.
ton OF neutral rights which II would
be very hard. indeed. to reconcile
with the friendly relations now 90
happily subsisting between the two
governments.
IF such q deplorable situation
should arise. the imperial German gov.
eminent can readily appreciate that
the government Of the United States
would be constrained to hold the Inn
perial German government to q strict
accountability for such acts Of their
naval authorities and to take any
steps II might be necessary to take tc
safeguard American lives and proper
~ and to secure to American citixenl
the full enjoyment of their acknowl
edged rights on the high seas.
The government OF the United
States expresses the confident hop.
and expectation that the imperial Ger
man government can and will give az
surance that American citizens an,
their vessels will not be molested.'
NO bcCfCt1Iy VI DCstC ua1 iuBITuCu
ed Ambassador Page ut London {,
present to the British government
note to the following effect:
sDsesptIvs uss Of the nag Of en-
United states In the zee ares define,
In che German declaration woul,
ersstiy sndanssr the vessels Of
friendly power navigating those M
tiers and would even seem ~ impos
upon che government Of orsat BritaIl
. measure ~ responsibility for en-
loss o. American ilvss and vessels Il
case o. IN stack BY . German nsvs
force.
slmprsss upon HE maJesty's govern
n,ent the grave concern which thI
esvsrnmsat feels In the sIreun
staness.s
Marisx Executed ~ osrmansf
Pretoria, South Africa. Feb. 18TH
Pretoria News states Lieutenant Col
cnel Marits, who instisated the Boz
rohollion. has been executed By IN