The Green Forest tribune., 1916-01-07
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES


 icy elected by this country, the gov. ernment 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- cided to seize grain and flour ship ments to Germany even if 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 vessel 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 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 16, Germany of- 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 German port with wheat for civilian consumption.
 The German note in reply to the American protest against the subma- rine blockade disclaimed all responsi- bility. Great Britain affirmed it's in- tention to send the Wilhelmina 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 u United States to- ward the shipme of war materials ,I e,uviet s4se1 iesfff trade with Germany On May 1 the American oil carrier Gulfight was sunk off the Scilly islands by a Ger man submarine
 Destruction of the Lusitania.
 May ', the big transatlantic liner Lusiania was sunk by German sub marine off the coast of Ireland, with a loss of nearly 1,200 lives; including upwards of a hundred Americans On May 13 the United States protested agai1st the German submarine policy and declared it's intention of main tainhg the rights of American citi- zens. On May 25 the American steam CT Nebraskan was seriously damaged by a torpedo off the south coast of Ireland. On May 28 the German reply to tle United States note of protest in rtgard to 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 to the status of the Lusi- tania should be established. On May 31 Germany made official announce ment that the Gulflight had been sunk by German submarine whose cap tain failed to recognize the American flag.
 On June Secretary of State Will liam J. Bryan resigned his office to avoid signing 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 22 the Brit lsh government sent an official note to the American ambassador explain ing efforts made to protect neutral shipping. On June 28 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 safaty to United States ships in the war zone if specif- ically marked, and suggesting that the American flag be placed on four hos tile steamers for the safe transporta. tion of American passengers.
 More Diplomatic Notes.
 On July 21 the United States sent a third note to Germany, with the state ment that the German reply to for. mer note had been very unsatisfac. tory" and that repetition of the acts complained of would be regarded as deliberately unfriendly." On Aug ust several notes from Great Brit ain concerning interference with Amer 1can trade in the war zone were made public, in which it was claimed that Great Britain was do ing nothing in violation of interna tional law. In the case of the William F. Frye, an American ship sunk by the Prinz Eitel Friedrich, January 28 Germany agreed to furnish indemnity