Valdez daily prospector., 1916-10-20
FRIDAY. OCTOBER, 20. 191e
BRINGING THE WAR TO US.

No development of the European war as it affects this nation has been more startling than the operation of a German submarine-or perhaps a fleet of submarines-at the very doors of the center of American wealth. It was considered possibility many months ago-that performance of the U-53 off the Nantucket Shoals last week, but somehow we were unpre- pared to accept it as an actuality. In more ways than one 1t contains sin ister lesson to the United States.
 For sheer daring the exploit of the U-53 has hardly been surpassed in a war where courage of the highest or der is witnessed daily. Ordinarily one would have expected a German submarine sent to American waters to wreak havoc with enemy shipping to have exercised the greatest secrecy. The U-boat did nothing of the kind. It appeared in a Rhode Island port in the most casual manner, ostensi- bly to deliver mail to the German ambassador. Then, after a stay of three hours slipped out to sea, appar- ently with little concern for the pos abilities of capture or destruction of fered by allied war craft operating off the American coast
 Even the sinking of the six vessels two of which were neutral and one of which appears not to have been carrying any contraband whatever was attended by bold indifference to- ward the enemy. There was no hur- ry, no excitement. It was all done in businesslike manner.
 From the American viewpoint the evident purpose of complying with in- ternational law on the part of the submarine was satisfying. No Amer ican ships were attacked and prelim- mary reports at least indicate that the usual warnings were given, although this Is contradicted by the comman- der of one British ship. In fact, there is some indication that the American naval authorities were previously n J. tified of the intended raid on enemy commerce for several American de- stroyers were in the vicinity when the attack was made and assisted in rescuing the passengers. Whether the Germans are to be thanked that there were no casualties is problem atical. but 1t is a source of satisfac- tion that no non-combatants were sacrificed.
 The incident certainly emphasizes our duty to observe strict neutrality toward both belligerent groups and to gee that neither succeeds in crossing the dead line of our impartiality. If the Germans cannot use our coast for submarine purposes neither should the Allies be allowed to patrol it with her warships. This policy on our part must be followed even if it be- comes necessary to use our navy to enforce 1t and the werring nations should not be allowed to assume that we will brook an invasion of our rights or those of others.
 Probably the most significant fact of the whole sensation to us is that our pretended isolation is an utter sham. The developments of the war have constantly disproved this. Ger many has brought the war to our doorstep and placed us in the same position as the European neutrals ex- cept only in lesser degree. At least one German submersible eluded the nets and destroyers of England, has crossed the ocean in IT days and waged war on the enemy off our very doorstep. Certainly this proves that the 3090 miles between ourselves and warning Europe is no Chinese wall for America, and that our neutrality must be sincere If we would escape