The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-10-06
London, Sept. 16.

parently a widespread impression
among those who are generally
known as pacificists as well as in
rro-German and Irish-American cir
cles that the conditions which have
existed during the past hundred
years at sea are likely soon t. under
80 some modification.
President Eliot, of Harvard, who
las been foremost in denouncing Ger
man atrocities on land and sea, has
contended recently that the day of
sea control by one power is Fast, and
has urged that the seas are the prop
crty of all nations, and that their free
use for commerce should be guaran-
teed by joint alliance of the powers.
ga strong, trustworthy, interna-
tional alliance to preserve the free
dom of the seas under all circum-
stances" he has argued, "would Sc
cure for Great Britain and her feder-
ated commonwealth everything Sc
cured by the burdensome two navies'
policy, which now secures the free
dom of the sea for British purposes.
The same international alliance
would secure for Germany the COM
plete freedom of the SEAS"
Direct Cause Of the War Of 1912.
1t is we'll that the British people
should recognize that, though the
British navy has more than fulfilled
The hopes which resided in it on the
outbreak of war, they are involved
already in controversies of serious,
if not critical, character with neutral
nations, and particularly with the
United States, as to the extent to
which British sea-power may legiti-
mately be employed without ;nfring-
ing the freedom of the seas as de-
fined.
The two principal immediate causes
Of the War of 1912 were the impress
laent of seamen talleged to be de-
serters from the British service) from
american merchant ships unon the
high seas to serve in the British navy,
and the interference with the carry
ing trade of the United States by the
naval power of Great Britain.
The controversy with the United
States dragged on for many months.
On June 18 bill authorizing a dec
laration of war received the sigma
ture of the President. Five days
later the British Government, una
ware of this action, repealed the or
aers in council which were the main
cause of dispute.
The bone of contention had already
been buried, and yet for two and a
half years the United States and
Great Britain fought over it. And the
result? The, Treaty of Client, which
was signed on December "a, 1914,
left unsettled the main points of dis
pute.
Thus closed one of the tragedies of
history, leaving the doctrine of the
freedom of the seas practically where
it was before hostilities began.
Germany Never Champion of Free
dom of the Seas"
In his last note to the German Gov
eminent DR.. Wilson remerked that
"the Government of the United States
end the Imperial German Govern
ment II are both contending
Tor the freedom of the seas" "The
Government of the United States," it
was added, "will continue to contend
Cor that freedom, from whatever
quarter it is violated, without COM
promise and at any COST"
The statement that the United
States and Germany "are both con-
tending for the freedom of the seas"
is open to misconstruction. Germany
Eever has been the champion of this
principle in tn sense that we and the
Americans have supported it. She
has aspired to a dominion over the
worlds seas as the foundation of a
Greater Germany and a world domi-
ration.
In the early years of his reign the
German Emperor declared: 81 will
never rest until I have raised my
navy to position similar to that oc-
cupied by my army" On another oc-
casion he remarked: "Our future lies
en- the water" He embodied his ulti-
mate ambition in the phrase: "The