Gilpin observer., 1916-01-06
WAR AND THE UNITED STATES

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
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 IL 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 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
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 II 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 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 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 OF the Scilly islands by Ger
man submarine.
nAak rtir<ion - I
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 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 25 the American steam
er 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 so-called war zone" was received.
Final statement of the German posi-
tion was reserved until 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 s Secretary OF State VIII
liam J. Bryan resigned his Cfiice to
avoid signing q 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 90 the Brit
ish government sent an official note
to the American ambassador explain
ing efforts made to protect neutra
shipping. On June % the British
steamer Armenian was destroyed by
a German submarine of the coast oi
southern England and number oi
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
tion Of American passengers.
More Diplomatic Notes.
On July 21 the United States sent {
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 tn,
acts complained Of would be regarded
a. deliberately unfriendly." On Aug
ust several notes from Great Brit
ain concerning interference with Amer
lean trade in the war zone wer,
made public, in which 1t wal
claimed that Great Britain was do
ing nothing in violation Of interna
| tional law In the case of the WilIio =,