Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-02-18
PROTEST RENDERS
PRESS Of BERLIN
VERY BELL|GERENT
"America Carrot Handle Ger
man Government BY Pres
sure and Threats" Says
Leading Publication.
NOT INCLINED 10 YIELD
If U. S. Ships Are Sunk In War
Zone, Only Americans Are
to Blame, They Say of
President Note.
NOT INCLINED 10 YIELD

Reri3l. via Londont. Feb. i5.-Thc
American note of protest to Germany
concerning me new war n about
n British Isles has been presented to
the German government by lnbas
sador James ~. Gerard. The Berlin
press is inclined to adopt a belliger-
ent tone III discussing the American
note, which lntimates that an attack
nn any ship carrying the American
haE without = previous inquiry as to
It's right to fiy the flag could lead to
serious conn 'licationS.
Sernlan newspapers Ii the public
are insisting. in spite of W~ashineton's
protest and in spite of possible con-
sequences, that the German submarine
poicy mast be pursued re!entlessly.
The &iat OF German opinion, as it
mas tan. iar been transmitted to Lon
don. E2Nld appear to be that the neu-
tral powers have been sufficiently
area aod, inasmuch as Germany is
racing starvation at the hands Of
threat tS;it9!E rlle-c is 40 otker course
FOR hei 10 aursur.
The h-eilse Ze:iuns. commenting on
this. says:
THIS note would amount to a
breach of neutrality uniess America
Gallons of a most serious character
would result from the misuse of the
American flag"
Text Not Published.
The text of the American note has
not Yet been made known to the Ger
man press and the comment up to the
present time has been based entirely
on news agency dispatches from
Washington giving a brief synopsis of
The communication.
The Noalnische Zeituns ass repub-
llSleu nrCintnpnt1N t1,m tho no o,a
Zeltung an article by Count Won Rev
fat:oW, the naval critic, concerning
GerUany's declaration OF Il marine
war zone around the British isles. In
this article Count Won Rcventlow re-
fers II the report that the Washing
ton government intended to ask how
Germany purposed to make neutral
ssinpinG safe in these waters, and
SAYS:
This Marie war zone was an
nounced by the German government for
the Very reason that safety of naviga-
ton therein cannot be guaranteed. The
vessels of neutrals enter Upon this wal
zone snly at their own risk. This con-
dltion OF affairs, and the consequences
IL RAY bring after February IS, cannot
DC changed or influenced by any rep
presentations or demands from Wash
irston. 1t is equally out of the ques-
tlon that the identity of every snip with
- r l 10 w StN'NI lsiIlltsI. ~ SUD-
marine mine cannot Learn. this iden-
l1ry anG such a course is equally inn
possible for a submarine boat"
Can't Be Buldozed.
In concluding his article, Count Won
ReNentlow. says:
THE German declaration in itself
must furnish proof to Americans that
the possible destruction of American
ships after February Is, cannot afford
the Washington government n
ground for complaint of any nature
against the German government. but
that the American government and the
shippers themselves must bear the re
sponsibility il they permit their vessels
to enter this war zone.
w gather the impression here from
expressions reaching Germany from
across the water that if the American
people believe they can handle the Ger
man government as they desire by
pressure n threats they will fool
themselves"