The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-01-06
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES

IN mas Decn DrOuEnt race 10 ltCe
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 10 Germany even II intended for
noncombatants, and. two days later.
Germany declared the waters around
Great Britain and ireland 10 be a wal
zone. and announced her purpose 10
destroy every enemy merchant vessel
discovered therein. Neutrals were
warned OF the danger sure TO follow.
on February 6. the Atlantic liner Lust
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
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 tG. Germany Of
fered 20 withdraw from her crusade
against British merchant ships II the
British woulL 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 disclnimed all rcsponsi.
bility. Great Britain affirmed its in.
tention to send ahe Wilhelmina TO n
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
April 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 | the
American oil carrier Gulnight vas
sunk of tho Scilly islands by a Ger
man submarine.
Destruction Of the lusltanla.
On May Z, the big transatlantic liner
Lusitania was sunk by u German sub
marine OF the coas OF ireland. with
a loss OF nearly 200 lives; including
upwards Of a hundred Americans. On
May 10 the United States protested
against the German submarine policy
and declared It's intention OF main.
tanning the rights OF American citi-
zens. On May 20 the American steam.
or Nebraskan was seriously damaged
by a torpedo on the south coast OF
ireland. on May rs the German reply
TO the United States note OF protest
in regard 10 the submarine policy in
the so.called war zone was received
Final statement OF the German posi-.
tion was reserved until a common ba.
sis OF fact as 10 the status OF the Lust.
tania should be established. On May
!, 81 Germany made Official announce
, ment that the Gulfight had been SUM
. by a German submarine whose cap
/ tain failed to recognize the American
flag.
E On June 8 Secretary OF State VII
liam J. Bryan resigned his office to
avoid signing q second note OF pro
4 test TO Germany agains, submarine In
q reference with merchant ships. Or
the following day this note was SEN
o and assurances were asked that in fu
ture American ships and lives shoult
Q be ~safeguarded. On June % the Brit
[ ish government sent an official not'
q to the American ambassador explain
a ing efforts made TO protect neutra
q shipping. on June 2S the British
n steamer Armenian was destroyed b!
Il a German submarine of the coast o
A. southern England and n number O
I. Americans In the crew lost their lives
y On July 8 Germany replied TO tn
l. second Washington note regardinI
the submarine war against merchan
I, ships, promising safety TO Unite
States ships in the war zone II speci
ically marked, and suggesting that tn
u. American flag be placed on -four hot
ID tilo steamers for the safe transport
A. ton OF American passengers.
n. More Diplomatic Notes.
BY On July ~ the United States sent
third note 10 Germany. with the stat
ment that the German reply to a 10
he mer note had been very unsatisfa
ly tory" and that n repetition of II
he acts complained OF would be regardc
oh as deliberately unfriendly." On Au
Ia. ust 3 several notes from Great Bri
tn ain concerning Interference with Anne
ed lean trade In the war o we
made public. in which IL WI
ny claimed that Great Britain was d
1t. ing nothing in violation of intern
Ily tional law. In the case OF the Villa
,iy p. Frye. an American ship sunk |
yn the Prinz Eitel Friedrich, January z
or Germany agreed to furnish indemnit
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