The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-12-31
sond p. oeddes, United Press staff
- Correspondent.

! Washington, D. en- Der 29.-An
. epochal year in United States rela-
tions with the world family OF ra-
! tions marked 1915. Serious crisis
1 marked the twelve months; and more
threaten In 1915. This nation pass
ed safely. through the vortex of the
/ world war and the tangled skein OF
war politics, though often very near
severing relations with European
powers. It's peace has been threat
ened from within and without.
The country faces in, the new year
more delicate problems. including
new and old disputes with Europe's
belligerents. "a. a.. 10 5
The killing of over 100 Americans
on the high seas, destruction, seizure
and attacks upon American vessels,
ruthless confscatiop OF Anne ri C n
property and interference with Amer
lean commerce: dismissal of foreign
diplomats. resignation of its own
secretary of state, and European crit
icism of its neutrality were the out
standing events of 1915 In American
world diplomacy.
Peaceful settlement OF the dispute
with Austria over her attack upon the
Italian liner Ancona, with England
over her trade interferences, with
Germany over the Lusitania incident
and with the Teutonic powers over
| unneutral conspiracies in this coun-
try were the quartet OF dominant and
delicate problems facing, us in 1916
Red Letter days on the. 1915 calen-
dar were: ~ 90. go
March 15.-England's !, blockade OF
Germany: May sinking OF the Lu-
sitania; June 9-Secretary Bryan's
resignation; Aug. 1s-Sinking of the
Arabic: Sept. 10-Recall OF Austrian
Ambassador Dumba: Oct. 4-HaIf
billion loan TO the allies;', Nov. 3
Sinking of the Ancona; Dec. 3-Re-
call of German Captains BoyE Ed and
Won Papen. -, So
These and numberless other en-
tanglements of the war caused Uncle
Sam to break all records in Zdiplo-
matte note writing. Hundreds of
notes were sent The chief years
diplomatic victory was the enforced
modification by Germany Of her sub
marine warfare. ,.
Today the United States stands
with increased power and prestige,
but still weighted with the task of
perfecting peaceful settlements with
England, France. Germany and Aus
tria in most delicate and difficult
complications. The passing year was
rife with diplomatic dynamite. A
chronicle OF, the more important in
ternational events follows.
January 5,-United States agrees
with England to certify non contra
band cargoes. S-England denied
unduly seizing American ships. IL
England protested transfer of cotton
steamer Dacia from German to United
States registry 2SllA,m r / n
schooner. William.P. Frye sunk by
German. raider PrissE .Eitell Friedrich
February 5-Because OF German
government confseating all food
stuffs, England seized American grain
steamer Willie I'm ina. 11-United
States warned England and Germany
not to abuse use of American flag or
attack American ships. 16-German
submarine blockade of England pro-
tested. 1S-British note denies Amer
lean commerce injured r19-German
note rejected = An erican protest
against sinking neutral ships in war
zone about England 2O-Two notes
from England affirmed right to seize
steamer WGlhelmina and promised
limited use of American flag. al
American cotton seamer Evelyn sunk
by mine. one American killed. %
American cotton steamer Carib sunk
by mine, two Americans killed. 81
Government began probing supplying
OF German warships from New York
by Hamburg American line officials.
2S-France seized Dacia.,
/ March ,1C-German raider Prinz
Eitel Friedrich arrived at Newport
News and later informed. 2S-Leon
Thrasher. American. killed when Ger
man submarine torpedoed British
steamer Falaba. ef., .',
April French $50, O9O. 900 loan
negotiated. 5-United States asks
Germany for PREPARATION for schooner
William p. Frye. France released
August Piepenbrink. German seized
on American steamer. Note to Eng
land declares German blockade ille-
gal. 7-Prinz Eitel Friedrich interned
Germany protested against steamer
Odenwald's detention at San
Juan, Porto Rico. 11-German raider
Kronprinz Wilhelm reached Newport
News. 1J-Germany protests against
American munitions sales to allies
21-State department advises Ger
many munitions sales are made by
| legal rights. 26-Kronprinz Wilhelm
informed. l.F ~.
May 1-Lusitania sailed from New
York despite German embassy warn
ings. 3-American steamer Gulfiight
torpedoed by German submarine of
Scilly Isles. three Americans killed
7-Lusitania torpedoed by German
submarine, ia Americans killed. Is
United States note to Germany de-
mands disavowal of Lusitania attack
reparation and cessation summarizing
OF ships carrying nonscombatants.
25-American t e m eK Nebraskan
sunk by mine or torpedoed. 80
Germany delivers reply note to Am
bassador Gerard regarding Lusitania
alleging vessel armed. q eg
June 5--German notes regret at
tacks on Cushing and Gulfiight. q
Secretary of State Bryan resigns.
10-United States sends second Lusi-
tania note to Germany holding her tc
strict accountability. England