The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-01-08
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES

eminent has Deen Drought IdCe W 60
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 Oh
fering reasonable redress for any mis-
take of that nature.
Early in February, Great Britain de-
cided TO seize grain and hour snip
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 Vessei
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 Amerl-
can shipping in the war zone. Ger
many was warned against committing
a 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 16, Germany or
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 a German port
with wheat for civilian consumption.
The German note in reply to the
American protest against the subma-
rine blockade disclaimed all RESPONSE
bility. Great Britain affirmed is in
tention to send the Wil5eimina to a
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. On
Apfil II, 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 the
American oil carrier Gulfiight was
sunk off the Scilly islands by a Ger
man submarine.
Destruction Of the lusitanla.
On May Z, the big transatlantic liner
Lusitania was sunk by German sub
marine off the coast of Ireland, with
loss of nearly 1900 lives; including
upwards of hundred Americans. On
May Is 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
er Nebraskan was seriously damaged
by a torpedo off 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 Ma!
81 Germany made official announce
ment that the Gulflight had been SUM
by a German submarine whose cap
tain failed to recognize the American
flag.
On June s Secretary of State Wi
, liam ]. Bryan resigned his Office t.
avoid signing a second note of pre-
test to Germany against submarine N
, reference with merchant ships. o.
the following day this note was sen
, and assurances were asked that in II
ture American ships and lives shout
, be safeguarded. On June % the Brit
I ish government sent an official not
, to the American ambassador explain
, ing efforts made to protect neutrs
, shipping. On June 20 the BIRTHS
, steamer Armenian was destroyed b
: a German submarine off the coast c
: southern England and a number c
Americans in the crew lost their live
y On July Germany replied to tn
: second Washington note regardin
: the submarine war against merchar
!. ships. promising safety to Unite
g States ships in the war zone If speci
Z ically marked, and suggesting that tn
+ American flag be placed on four no
4 tile steamers for the safe transport
J. ton Of American passengers.
J. More Diplomatic Notes.
y On July 81 the United States sent
t third note to Germany, with the stat
II ment that the German reply to a fo
e mer note had been very unsatisfa
y tory" and that a repetition Of Il
@ acts complained of would be regarde
h as deliberately unfriendly." On Au
ust 8 several notes from Great Bri
h ain concerning interference with Anne
d lean trade in the war zone We
made public, in which it W;
y claimed that Great Britain was d
{ ing nothing in violation Of intern
v tional law. In the case of the Villa
v P. Frye. an American ship sunk
n the Prinz Eitel Friedrich, January
o. and the United States accepted Il
g. offer and proposed that the matter
2. referred to The Hague court.
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