The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-08
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES

Strictly neutral as has been the pol
icy elected by this country, the gov
eminent has been brought face to 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-
cided to seize grain and flour ship
ments to Germany even il intended for
noncombatants, and, two days later,
Germany declared the waters around
Great Britain and Ireland to be war
zone, and announced her purpose to
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
flag as a protection against hostile
submarines. On February 10, the
United States sent notes to Germany
and Great Britain concerning Ameri-
can shipping in the war zone. Ger
many was warned against committing
breach OF the rules OF naval warfare
and Great Britain was reminded that
serious consequences might follow the
use of the American flag by British
vessels On February Is, Germany Of
fered to withdraw from her crusade
against British merchant ships if 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 ship
Wilhelmina, bound for German port
with wheat for civilian consumption.
The German note in reply to the
American protest against the subma-
rine blockade disclaimed all RESPONSE
biIity. Great Britain affirmed its in
tention to send the Wilhelmina to q
prize court In replies TO inquiries
from the Washington government,
neither Germany nor Great Britain
showed any disposition to recede from
the positions already announced. Or
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 1 the
American oil carrier Gulfiight was
sunk OF the Scilly islands by a Ger
man submarine.
Destruction OF the Lusitania.
On May z, the big transatlantic liner
Lusitania was sunk by German sub
marine on the coast Of Ireland, with
loss Of nearly 1000 lives; including
upwards of a hundred Americans. On
May ID the United States protested
against the German submarine policy
and declared its intention of main
tanning the rights Of American citi-
Zens. On May Is the American steam
er Nebraskan was seriously damaged
by a torpedo OF the south coast Of
Ireland. On May % the German reply
to the United States note of protest
in regard to the submarine policy in
the so-called war zone" was received.
Final statement of the German posi-
ton was reserved until a common ba-
sis of fact as to the status of the Lusi-
tania should be established On May
81 Germany made official announce
ment that the Gulf1ight had been sunk
by q German submarine whose cap
tain failed to recognize the American
flag.
On June 8 Secretary Of State VIII
liam ]. Bryan resigned his office to
avoid signing g second note of pro-
foC 70, n In
reference 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 safeguarded. On June p the Brit
ish government sent an official note
to the American ambassador explain
ing efforts made to protect neutral
shipping On June % the British
steamer Armenian was destroyed by
German submarine on the coast CT
southern England and a number OF
Americans in the crew lost their lives.
On July Germany replied to the
second Washington note regarding
the submarine war against merchant
ships. promising safety to United
States ships in the war zone If specif-
ically marked, and suggesting that the
American flag be placed on four hos
tile steamers for the safe Transports
ton OF American passengers.
More Diplomatic Notes.
On July 81 the United States sent a
third note to Germany, with the state
ment that the German reply to a for
mer note had been very unsatisfac-
tory" and that a repetition of the
acts complained CT would be regarded
as deliberately unfriendly." On Aug
ust several notes from Great Brit
ain concerning interference with Amer
lean trade in the war zone were
made public, in which it was
claimed that Great Britain was do
ing nothing in violation Of interna-
tionaI law. In the case OF the William
P. Frye, an American ship sunk by
the Prinz Ethel Friedrich, January q,
Germany agreed to furnish indemnity,
and the United States accepted the
oner and proposed that the matter be
referred to The Hague court