The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-01-14
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES


icy elected by this country. the gov.
erument has been brought face 10 face
with many serious problems which
have arisen from the conduct OF the
European war. One OF these was the
seizure and detention by Great Britain
OF vessels carrying American goods to
neutral ports in Europe. A protest
was made by Washington and ON Jan.
uary 10 Great Britain replied by OF.
fering reasonable redress for any mis-
take OF that nature.
Early In February. Great Britain de-
eided to seize grain and -four ship
ments TO Germany even II intended TO.
noncombatants. and. two days later,
Germany declared the waters around
Great Britain and ireland to be war
rome, and announced her purpose 10
destroy every enemy merchant vessel
discovered therein. Neutrals were
warned OF the danger sure 20 follow
On February {, the Atlantic liner Lusi
tsnia made the passage from New
York to Liverpool flying the American
Gag as protection against hostile
submarines, On February 10. the
United States sent notes 10 Germany
and Great Britain concerning Aneri-
can shipping In the war zone. Ger
many was warned against committing
q breach OF ths rules OF naval warfare
and Great Britain was reminded that
serious consequences might follow the
use OF the American Dag by British
vessels. On February l6, Germany OF.
fered TO withdraw from her crusade
against British merchant ships II the
British would permit the sending OF
food TO the civilian population Of Ger
many. On the same day. the British
government seized the American shir
Wilhelmina. bound for a German port
with wheat for civilian consumption.
The German nete in reply TO the
American protest against the subma.
rinc blockade disclaimed all RESPONSE
bility Great Britain affirmed It's in
tention to send the Wilhelmina to
prize court In replies To inquiries
from the Washington government.
neither Germany nor Great Britain
showed any disposition 70 -ecede from
the positions already announced. On
April IL, the German ambassador pro
tested TO tho 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 the
American oil carrier Gulfight was
sunk OF the Scilly islands by Ger
man submarine.
Destruction Of the lusitanla.
On May 7. the big transatlantic liner
Lusitania WAS sunk by German sub
marine OF tho coast OF ireland. with
q loss OF nearly 100 ltyes. including
upwards OF hundred Americans On
May - the United States protested
against the German submarine policy
and declared It's intention OF main
tanning the rights OF American clti.
zens. On May IS the American steam.
or Nebraskan was seriously damaged
by torpedo on the south coast OF
ireland. On May rs the German reply
TO the United States note OF protest
In regard TO the submarine policy IN
the so-called war rome" was received
Final statement OF the German posi-.
ttnn was reserved nntil a common ba-
sic Of fact a. 10 the status OF the Lusi.
tania should be established. On May
81 Germany made Official announce
ment that tho Gulfight had been sunk
by 4 German submarine whose cap
tain failed TO recognize the American
Tag.
On June 3 Secretary Of State VIII
liam J. Bryan resigned his once to
avoid signing q second note OF pro
test to Germany against submarine in
tertercnce with merchant ships. On
the following day this note was sent
and assurances were asked that in fu.
ture American ships and lives should
be safeguGrded On June - the Brit
ish government sent an official note
10 the American ambassador explain.
ing efforts made to protect neutral
shipping, On June Is the British
steamer Armenian was destroyed by
a German submarine OF the coast o.
southern England and a number OF
Americans In the crew lost their lives
On July s Germany replied 10 the
second Washington note regarding
the submai the war against merchant
ships. promising safety to United
Sts;ss ships In the war zone II specit.
lcally marked. and suggesting tina, the
American Gag be placed on four hos
tile steamers for the safe transporta-
ton OF American passengers.
More Diplomatic Netea
On July Il the United States sent 4
third note to Germany, with the state
nent that the German reply 10 q fer
mer note had been very unSAiistac.
tory" and that repetition OF the
acts complained OF would 10 regarded
~ deliberately unfrieEdly." On AUG.
lst several notes from Great Brit
Ain concerning Interference with Amer.
Ican trade In the war Lone were
made public, in which |; was
that Great Britain was DO
M nothing IN violation OF irterna.