The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-01-07
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES

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-
ments to Germany even II intended for
noncombatants, and. two days later,
Germany declared the waters around
Great Britain and Ireland to be a war
zone, and announced her purpose to
destroy every enemy merchant vessel
discovered therein Neutrals we're
warned OF the danger sure to follow.
On February g. 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
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 IL 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
bility. Great Britain affirmed its in.
tention to send the Wilhelnina 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
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 Gulflight was
sunk off the Scilly islands by Ger
man submarine.
Destruction of the Lusitania.
On May 7, the big transatlantic liner
| Lusitania was sunk by German sub
marine of the coast of Ireland, with
a loss of nearly 1900 lives; including
upwards of hundred Americans. On
May 13 TIE United States protested
| against the German submarine policy
and declared its intention OF main
zens. On May % the American steam
err 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 socalled 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 Gulflight had been sunk
by a German submarine whose cap
tain failed to recognize the American
flag.
On June Secretary of State vii.
liam j. Bryan resigned his Office to
avoid signing a second note of pro-
test to Germany against submarine 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 % the Brit
ish government sent an official note
to the American ambassador explain
ing efforts made to protect neutral
shipping. On June IS the British
steamer Armenian was destroyed by
a German submarine off the coast of
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 II specif-
ically marked, and suggesting that the
American flag be placed on four hos
tile steamers for the safe transporta-
ton of American passengers.
More Diplomatic Notes.
On July 81 the United States sent q
third note TO Germany, with the state
mcnt that the German reply to for
mer note had been very unsatisfac-
tory" and that a repetition of the
acts complained Of would he 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-