Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1916-01-29
WAR AND


Strictly neutral as has been the pol
icy elected by this country, the gov
eminent has been brought face to race
with many serious problems which
have arisen from the conduct of the
European war. One CT these was the
seizure and detention by Great Britain
of vessels carrying American goods TO
neutral ports i'll Europe. A protest
was made by Washington and Oh jan
uarv 10 Great britain replied by or
fering reasonable rtdress for any mis-
take of that nature.
Early in February, Great Britain de-
oided 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. en- 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
q 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
Wilhelrnina, bound for a German port
with wheat for civilian consumption.
The German note in reply to the
American protest against the subma-
rine blockade disclained all RESPONSE
hility. Great Britain affirmed its in
tention to send the Wilhelmina to a
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 Gulfight was
sunk off the Sicily islands by a Ger
man submarine.
Destruction of the Lusltanla.
On May 7, the big transatlantic liner
Lusitania was sunk by a German sub
marine off the coast of Ireland, with
loss of nearly 1900 lives; including
upwards of hundred Americans. On
May 10 the United States protested
against the German submarine policy
and declared its intention of main
tanning the rights of American citi-
zens. On May 25 the American steam
er Nebraskan was seriously damaged
by q 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 esta blished. On May
81 Germany made official announce
ment that the Gulaight had been sunk
by German submarine whose cap
tain failed to recognize the American
flag.
On June Secretary of State Will
liam ]. Bryan resigned his office to
avoid signing O second note of rro-
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
BIO safeguarded. On June 22 the Brit
ish government sent an official note
to the American ambassador explain
ing efforts made to protect neutral
shipping On June % the British
steamer Armenian was destroyed by
O German submarine off the coast of
southern England and a number of
Americans in the crew lost their lives.
On July s Germany replied to the
second Washington note regarding
the submarine war against merchant
ships. promising safety to United
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