The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1916-01-06
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES

ssse ~ ~
Strictly neutral as has been the p0l.
icy elected by this country. the gov.
ernment has been brought face to face
with many serious problems which
have arisen from the conduct Of tha
European war. One OF these wss tAs
seizure and detention by Great Britain
Of vessels carrying American goods b
neutral ports In Europe. A protest
was made by Washington and on Jan.
uary 10 Great Britain replied BY q.
fering reasonable redress for any mis-
take Of that nature.
Early in February. Great Britain d.
cided TO seize grain and -four chip
ments to Germany even Il intsaded for
noncombstants. and. two days later.
Germany declared the waters aroand
Great Britain and Ireland 70 ~ q var
zone. and announced her purpose 10
destroy every enemy merchant vessel
discovered therein. Neutrals were
warned OF the danger sure to follow.
On February 6. the Atlantic liner Lusi-
tania made the passage from New
York to Liverpool flying the American
nag ~ . protection against kostile
submarines. On February 10, the
United States sent notes to Germany
and Great Britain concerning AAeri-
can shipping in the war zone. Ger
many was warned against committtag
. breach Of the rules OF naval warfare
and Great Britain was reminded that
serious consequences might follow tie
use Of the American nag by BritisA
vessels. On Febnaary 16. Germany o.
fered to withdraw from her crusade
against British merchant ships II the
British would permit the sending se
food to the civilian population Of Ger
many. On the same day, the British
government seised the American ship
Wilhelmina. bound for . German port
with wheat for civilian consumptioa.
The German note In reply TO the
American protest against the saboa-
rine blockade disclaimed all rospons&
bility. Great Britain affirmed its b.
tention to send the Wilhelmina to .
prize court. In replies to inquiries
from the Warrington governmeat.
neither Germany nor Great Britain
showed any disposition to receda fro0
the positions already announced. On
April IL. the German ambassador pro-
tested to the state department against
the attitude Of the United States TO-
ward the shipment Of war materials
and British treatment Of American
trade with Germany. On May l tho
American oil carrier GulniEht was
sunk OF the Scilly islands by Ger
man submarine.
Destruction Of the lusitanIa.
On May z, the big Transatlantic liner
Lusitania was sunk by German sub
marine OF the coast Of Ireland. with
. loss Of nearly 1900 lives: including
upwards of hundred Americans. On
May 13 the United States protested
against the German submarine policy
and declared its intention Of main
tanning the rights Of American citi-
zens. On May rs the American steam
or Nebraskan was seriously damaged
by . torpedo OF the south coast Of
Ireland. On May 20 the German reply
to the United States note Of protest
in regard to the submarine policy in
the so-called war zone was received
Finsl statement Ct the German posi-
ton was reserved until q common ba-
sis of fact as to the status Of the Lusi-
tania should be established. On May
81 Germany made ofiicial announce
ment that the Guiflight had been sunk
BY q German submarine whose cap
tain failed to recognize the American
nag.
On June s Secretary Of State VII
liam J. Bryan resigned his Office to
avoid signing . second note Of pro-
test to Germany against submarine In
reference with merchant ships. On
the following day this note WIS sent
and assurances were asked that In fu
ture American ships and Hives should
be safeguarded. On June 2z the Brit
ish government sent an Official note
to the American ambassador explain
ing efforts made to protect neutral
shipping. On June % the British
8<00&ACA al AlNAt0A W06 UVOSlVyCN ~
. German sutnarine on the coaak OF
southern England aud . number OF
Americans in the crew lost their fives.
On July 8 Germany replied to the
second Washington note regarding
the submarine war against merchant
ships. promising safety to United
States ships in the war sone IL Apecif-
ically marked, and suggesting that the
American nag be placed ON four hos
tile steamers for the safe transporta-
ton Of American passengers.
More Diplomatic Notes.
On July II the United States sent Q
third note to Germany. with the state
ment that the German reply to for
mer note had been very unsatisfac-
tory" and that = repetition of the
acts complained of would be regarded
a. deliberately unfriendly." On Aug
ust 3 several notes from Great Brit
ain concerning interference with Amer.