Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-02-19
WOODSTOCK. VIRGINIA.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 1918
SUBMARINE WAR TO SAVE
GERMANY FROM STARVATION.

with Commander Gherardi, the
American naval attache, explain
ed the reasons animating Ger
many in declaring war zone
around England.
The admiral's review of the
situation is the most lucid and
authorize tive yet expressed. He
said f:
up to the present time Ger.
many in her operations at sea has
followed the lines laid down in
the London declaration or where
this declaration did not cover the
case, she has observed the stipu-
lations of the Paris treaty, on
which the conduct of war at sea
had been based before the Lon
don declaration.
In waging this war on COM
merce England has had in view
the subjugatiou of Germany by
the starvation of her subjects.
Germany has in every way sought
to call the attention Of neutral
powers and all others to the me-
cessity she was nnder of obtain
ing food for her civilian popula-
ton. This was her right under
the laws Of war. No results had
been obtained from her effort.
Since the shutting off of food
supplies has now come to a point
where Germany has no longer
sufficient food to feed her people,
it has become necessary for her
to bring England to terms by the
exercise of force.
Germany knows that by the
use of submarines, England can
b, placed in a position where she
will find that food will be lack.
ing there. Germany has the sub
marine forces to accomplish thi.
end. Germany's life as a nation
and the lives of her people de.
pend upon putting this campaign
into action.
BY arming her merchant ships
with guns for self-defense, En-.
gland las adopted and put into
force policy against which the
Germans have protested strong
1y. And the United States tool
the British point of view.
1T is not possible for sui
marines to approach British mer
chant ships and make examina
ton without exposing themselve.
to gun fire or bomb attack.
against which submarine would
be helpless.
Again England has advised
her merchant ships to fly neutra
flags, to cover up their ma mes, t.
change the color of their stacks
In order to escape the conse'
quences of their nationality.
This plan was designed te
bring Germany into conflict with
other nations.
Germany does not wish in the
slightest degree to harm Ameri
can or other neutral ships OF
their cargoes unless they are
carrying contraband of war. She
is, however, in a position where
her life depends on putting into
effect the only means she has
left of saving hers and she mus t
and will use this MEANS"
Washington, February TO-
The new argumentative feature
of Sir Edward Grey's second re-
ply to the United States note Of
December, protesting against
undue interference by Great
Britain with the rights of Ameri-
can commerce is the establish.
ment by Germany of tie sea war
zone.
The concluding part OF the re :
ply of the British foreign minis
ter is devoted to the war zone as
an additional Justification for the
detentions of American vessels ;
enlargement of the list of abso-
lutte contra band and the confisca-
tion with pay therefor of Ameri-
can foodstuffs.
The points and the leading
thought in Sir Edward Grey's
argument based OIL the war zore
development appear to be these
in the opinion of those who have
read the note.
1. Germany by the establish
ment of these zones and her nc
tice to the world of reprisals
against British merchant ship
ping indicated her intention to-
cripple the commerce of Grea
Britain in SO far as she can.
2. Therefore, Great Britain
feels the necessity Of exerting |