The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-12

without any character"
4 = u
U-Boat May BE
Playing Politics
THERE are many ways of playing
u politics, and perhaps the most
probable explanation yet offered Tor
the activity of the U-53 in American
waters is a desire to influence public
opinion in Germany.
AS all the world knows, by TINS
time, strong forces have been at work
| in Germany ever since the retirement
of Admiral Won Tirpitz to bring about
resumption of submarine warfare as
| it was being conducted when such
atrocities as the sinking of the Lusl-
tanis were perpetrated. The conserv-
alive element, headed by Chancellor
Won Bethmann- Hollweg, has resisted
the radicals, thus far with success, but
things are not going well with Ger
manv now. Her erstwhile invinclpie
armies are being hurled back by the
allies and her hope of conquering hall
the world is gone.
Recently the chancellor made an ao-
dress to the Reichstag in which ne ap-
parently Endorsed more drastic form
of submarine warfare, but 1t Is
thought the statement was made 10
allav the unrest throughout Germany,
as the conviction grows that the allies
are getting the upper hand.
AS a political move there is little to
fear from the presence of one or more
German submarines along the At
lantic seaboard. Public sentiment Will
be appeased at home by the sinking OF
neutral ships with consummate oar
ing. There is good reason to believe
that the rules of humane warfare are
heing observed and ample precautions
will be taken to avoid complications
with the American government.
Legal Holiday I'm
Honor of Columbus
TN Alabama and 80 other states Of
! u the union, also in Porto Rico,
today is legal holiday in honor
of the discoverer Of America. Born IN
or near Genoa in 1446, Christopher
Columbus evinced a taste for astron-
omy and cosmography at an early age
and after making four voyages to
America and having won the plaudits
of Europe, "the noblest navigator the
world has seen"-the man who added a
new hemisphere to the globe-was per-
mitted to die in poverty at Valiadolld
| in the year 1906.
Of irreproachable character and
lofty ideals, Columbus was not with
out ambition for power, for on setting
out on his first voyage across an un-
known sea he claimed as a reward that
he should be nominated by the Span
l;sh court. which had made his daring
enterprise possible, high admiral ano
tviceroy over all the land he might dis
cover, and tenth of the products OF
the new country.
While Columbus has been honoreo
by having named after him one strong
republic, one great river, many towns
several institutions of learning anc
lone widespread fraternal society
Ialso by the adoption of Columbia, the
Latin feminine form, as the popular
name for the United States, what is
known as America should have beer
lcalled Columbia.
Americas Vespucius, a contempt
irary OF christopher COLUMBUS, dne
like him an Italian navigator of rare
pluck and practical achievement, ans
according to some accounts, Il month:
earlier than our hero in reaching
South America, carried off the su
preme honor as the result of wha
might have seemed at the time
comparatively small detail. Martin
Waldsee Mueller, in his work, Intro
duction to Cosmography," published
in 1907, suggested the name Amer
lea" for the new world in honor O.
Columbus rival There were no daily
newspapers in those days to dissent
nate information, and facts, M