Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-02-23
By Ed L. Keen
Copyright 1915 by the United Press,
conYriphted in Great RritninA

Copyright 1915 by the United Press,
copyrighted in Great Britain.)
London, Feb, 23.-- "Germany will
sink no American ship-unless by de.
sign. A German torpedo which finds
its mark In the huh Of an American
vessel viii have been aimed and fired
from Berlin. If an American merchant.
man is sunk, il will be for the express
purpose Of dragging the United States
into the war.
The speaker was England's best
known and best loved sailor-Admiral
Lord Charles Beresford. His name
propably more than any other carries
to Americans picture Of q typical
British sea fighter. He is to English
men what "Bob" Evans was to
Americans. And, also, he is one Of
the clearest naval thinkers of the age.
He made the above reply to the
greatest question OF the moment here
one put by Americans hundreds Of
times daily:
Do you think Germany is trying to
force the United States into the warl
His statement was the first in which
any important parsonage connected
with British naval affairs has discussed
this phase Of the war. The admiral,
upon receiving a United States repre-
sentative, explained that he spoke only
because, knowing Americans intimate.
ly, he recognized the danger Of a pos.
sible misunderstanding in the United
States because Of the reticence and
secrecy forced upon British official
dom,
He pointed. out that, being demo.
cracy where personal liberty is real.
ity and military and police authority
are virtually not felt, England is more
vulnerable to German spying than any
other nation except the United States
81 don't share the opinion Of some
Of my countrymen that the Germans
are fools, " said Lord Beresford.
"I don't favor letting them have
that defense when the time Of reckon
ing comes Every move Of any magni
tude Germany has made 10 date has
been made deliberately and thinkingly
She must give an accounting on that
basis, The controlling intellects OF
Germany know that the sinking Of an
American ship, though apparently al
accident, would be an event Of the
first magnitude. They know 1t woult
be the shell that would explode tn,
magazine OF American patriotism
They know the war wave which swep
the United States in 1893 with tht
slogan: Remember the Mainel' was
mere ripple In comparison with tina
which would engulf the republic SHOULD
an unarmed merchant ship, flying th,
American flag, be sunk by German
submarine.
They know that such an event woul,
bring the United States into the wa
) within a week.
''I do not predict 10 what extreme
Germany would 20. But am con
fident that she would not leave to tn
judgment Of submarine commando
the issue whether or not the Unite,
States is to Join her enemies.
what possible motive could tn
kaiser or his advisers have in seekin
to involve the United Stotcsi" wa
inquired.
Smilingly he searched cloud o
cigar smoke for an answer.
"Possibly British psychology ISM
the best in the world at this particula
moment in analyzing Teutonic me
tivcs' he replied.
"But venture two possibl
answersi
I "First, with the United States !
the war; Germany would be in a bette
position to quit. The kaiser would b
able to save his face with his poopl
on the ground that the entire worl
was against him. Germany might hop
: 10 10 down In history as having ct
acted the role Of an under dos
sympathy for the under dog Is ofte
given without analyzing the dogs mo
ais or considering the fact whether b
really deserves to be under.
'fThe second, and / believe, the MOI
likely reason, is the fact that
v America should participate In the wa
she necessarily would participate
, the peace negotiations. IL Is unlikel
!, that your country would be invade
or would suffer TO the same extent 3
4 our allies. Therefore, the Unite
e States would enter the negotiation
:, without the poignant hatred natural
= affecting those countries whose HON,
d have been invaded, whose cities Al
farms have been desolated and whoI
people have been massacred. Amer
r cans, too do not have the reputatiC
e Of being reycngeful. You are-whI
IS shall l call it, easy as We Britis
d ers arc.
"There Is no doubt now but the