The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-13
MANY REPUBLICAN
 PAPERS ARE FINDING
 FAULT WITH CRITICS
Congress Is Having Lively Debate on How Far Reck- less Americans Can De- mand Protection
By HUGH ". ROBERTS

Washington, January 12.-(Special) The idea obtains that complications of a serious nature between the United States
 and the central powers will not again arise.
 In view of the apologies of Germany
 and Austria for the apparently wanton destruction of the Lustania and Ancona, and the inability of the United States to
 find proof that either was guilty of sink
 ing the Persia together with the promise
 of both that the American idea of hu- mane war will be vigorously adhered to,
 the incidents of such moment week
 more ago, are considered closed.
 At the present time, the most intense
 topic of international disputation is the
 stopping of American ships. interference
 with American mail, and embargoes
 against American cotton levied by the
 British government. The United States
 has addressed a vigorous note of pro-
 test to England. and it is believed that
 cotton. never before regarded as a con
 traband of war will be transferred to
 the free list" and that England will abandon other practices akin to those which precipitated the war of 1872.
 AMERICAN MADE LAW
 It Is interesting in connection with tho recent disputation between America and the central powers to recall that prior to the beginning of the European con- flict there was no international law gov erning submarine warfare. The demands of the United States directed to Ger ! many and Austria and granted by those powers, have been responsible for the fol- 1 lowing international code:
 1 No merchant ship of whatever natiou- a;7ts shalt De tospedced without warn- 1 ing
 Passengers and crews of all ships halted l shall be secured in place Of safety be- fore vessels are suns.
 Refuge of passengers and crew in small boats does not constitute place of safety
 unless land is near and the sea calm. Ships which attempt to escape by flight, resist capture or attack the submarine forfeit protection of international law for the vessel and all those aboard. in- cludng neutrals.
 Submarine commanders may be justified in torpedoing if suspicious and apparently hostile maneuvers of vessel justify be- lief in its hostile intentions After vessel halts. even though hav- ing originally attempted flight, subna- rines cannSt continue bombardment until all aboard gre secured.
 Neutral ships carrying absolute contra bands may be sunk (without mortality.
 Practically the sole important point still unsettled is the number and caliber of guns a merchant vessel may carry and avoid classification as an armed ship. G. o. P. IS FRANTIC With the situation the republican party is frantic-so frantic in fact. and so criti- cal of the policy of the administration which has brought form out of chaos, that certain newspapers are wondering if that political organization is at heart hopeful that war will be declared Expressive of that idea the New York Sun editorial says:
 'ls it possible that there is any Amer ican newspaper, or any American citizen in public private life now really hoping at the bottom of the hear that the con troversy with the central powers about American rights of travel on the high seas may reach pass, or rather inl- passe. which shall make war inevitable? "It is almost inconcevable that such should be the case; vet every time that a distinct gain is made by our state de- partment in it's progress toward satis- factory and honorable settlement of the whole business there are expressions here and there which give color to the idea that the gain has caused disappointment rather than joy in the regions subjacent to the clamoring gullet.
 THE WORLD COMMENTS Commenting on and agreeing with the sense of the foregoing, the New York World this morning editorially says: Ut is a shocking admission, but our
 neighbours question must be answered in
 the affirmative There are not only
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