The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-04-20

NGTON-President Wilson's
long-expected final warning to Ger
many that the United States will break
off diplomatic relations unless she
abandons her present methods of sub
marine warfare, and Immediately de-
clares her intention to do so, was de-
livered Wednesday in note to Berlin
and also was announced by the presi-
dent in an address to a joint session
of congress.
The president considered that the
next step depends solely upon Ger
many, and that three or four days con-
stitute a reasonable time for reply.
Diplomatic history records but one
instance where a breaking of relations
between two first-class powers has not
eventually brought war-that which
now exists between Germany and
Italy.
Congress received the presidents
declaration of his course with deepest
concern. Leaders, Democratic and
Republican, thought the president
hardly could do less, and some ex-
pressed the opinion that his action
would not lead to war. Republican
Leader Mann alone of all the opposi-
ton leaders openly attacked the presi-
dent for his stand. He characterized
it as a political play.
President Wilson's words leave no
opportunity for double meaning. In
his address to congress he said:
81 have deemed it my duty to say
to the imperial German government
that if it is still it's purpose to prose-
cute relentless and indiscriminate
warfare the government
of the United States is at last forced
to a conclusion that there is but one
course it can pursue; and that, unless
the imperial German government
Should now, Immediately, declare and
effect an abandonment of its present
methods of warfare against passenger
and freight-carrying vessels, this gov
ernment can have no choice but to
sever diplomatic relations altogether
Had the recent attack on the chan
mel steamer Sussex, the note tells
Germany, been an isolated case, the
United States might have hoped that
the submarine commander acted in
violation of his governments solemn
pledges and that the ends of justice
might have been suffered by a dis
avowal, reparation and his proper
punishment. But, it adds, this case
'unhappily does not stand alone"
"On the contrary" the note says
"the government of the United States
is forced by recent events to conclude
that it is only one instance, even
though one of the most extreme and
most distressing instances, of the de-
liberate method and spirit of indis-
criminate destruction of merchant
vessels of all sorts, nationalities and
destinations which have become more
and more unmistakable as to the ac.
tivity of German under-sea vessels oi
war and has in recent months beer
quickened and extended"
Attached to the American note as
an appendix are the facts in the case
of the Sussex They show that three
American army and navy officers
found in the hull of the destroyed
ship not only screw bolts which cor
responded in use and identification
marks with those on German torpedoei
in possession of the French govern
ment at the naval station at Toulone
but that the American officers actu
ally found Is pieces of metal whicl
they have identified as parts of Ger
man torpedoes. Four of the steel part
!, of the "warhead" of the torpedo still
bear the distinctive red paint common
> to German "warheads."
Besides this evidence, the note con
) tends, every circumstance, either ad
| mitted by Germany in her disclaime
: or proved by affidavits of persons ol
the destroyed liner, proves beyond
> question that she was torpedoed with
out warning.