The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-10-13
PRUSSIA'S PROGRAM

Some people who think the little
Star has no right to protest against
Germany's submarine campaign on
the coast of the United States may
possibly pay some attention to the
following from the big New York
Herald, admittedly one of the best
posted papers on international affairs
in the world:
"a favorable peace or war with
America." This is fhe Prussian pro-
gram as outlined in dispatches from
neutral countries in Europe having
access to reliable information con-
corning what is happening in Berlin.
The government of the United States
must play the part of catspaw for
Prussianism in promoting its keen de-
sire for peace on its own terms or it
is to be "draWn into the embodiment
of the European war"
A condition and not a theory con-
fronts the government of the United
States. In the fact of this situation,
what can possibly be accomplished by
policy of spussyfooting"? Is this a
time to be talking of holding to a
"strict accountability" for promiess
given with no intention of their being
kept? Is this time for microscopic
searchings of international law tones
III the hope of finding some fine haired
excuse on which to hang exculpation
of criminality?
In its note of May Ii, 1915, the gov
eminent of the United States notified
Berlin that its objection to the meth
DDS of warfare that had just reached
fruition in the crime of the Lusitania
lies Gin the practical impossibility of
employing submarines in the destruc-
tion Of commerce without disregard
ing those rules of fairness, reason,
justice and humanity which all mod
ern opinion regards as imperative. =
Manifestly submarines cannot
be used against merchantmen, as the
last few weeks have shown, without
an inevitable violation of many prin-
ciples of justice and humanity"
| Events since that note was sent
have time and again demonstrated the
scundness of the position therein
taken. Had that position been main
tanned as it should have been main
tained-the United States would at
least have been spared the humilia-
tion of a professed friendship with
murder.
An Act Deliberately Unfriendly'
Now that submarine "frightfulness'
has precipitated itself into American
waters, jeopardizing the lives of
American citizens, bringing with it a
blockading of American ports, en-
dangering the very foundations of the
prosperity this country enjoys and
has right to enjoy, the question of
continuing the humiliation of profess
led friendship with murder becomes
vital to this nation.
The warfare now being waged by
lPrussianism in American waters is a
deliberately unfriendly" act. The
time for arguing over niceties of in
ternational law has passed. 1t is the
duty of the president to do with Count
Won Bernstorff as Mr. Roosevelt did
with Holleben. Count Won Bernstorff
must be told, and told in way that
even he will understand, that the hour
for argument has passed. He must
be told that unless there is imme-
ldiate cessation of this warfare in
American waters he will be given his
passports and the pretense of friend
ship between the two nations will be
/ at an end.
It is not a question between main
tanning this nations self-respect OF
plunging into war. Talk at Berlin of
war with America is "bluff." Belief
that this "bluff' will work is based
solely on assumption of weakness at
Washington and Shadow Lawn.
Marine League insufficient for Pro-
lection of Neutral Territorial
4 Waters
i Various disturbing or serious condi-
lions, among them the transfer to
other ports under warship convoy OF
belligerent ships that have sought
asylum in our harbors and notably the
foray of the Prussian submarine U-53
have again emphasized the inadequacy
of the marine league as the extreme
distance to which the marginal terri
torial waters of a neutral state may
lextend. This arbitrary radius OF
three miles from the low water mark