The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1916-04-27
America and Germany

| CIdIC anu CuCCk du duduuOuHcul vi llS
present methods Of warfare against pas
senger and freight. carrying vessels,
this government can have no choice
but 10 sever diplomatic relations with
the Government OF the German En-
pire altogether"
Such we're the words in which Presi-
dent Wilson yesterday announced to
the joint Assembly Of Congress the
position and intent Of the American
Government with respect to German
submarine warfare. It is in the nature
Of an ultimatum, declaring action Of
an uniriendly nature TO be inevitable
unless the course that provokes it is
Immediately bandoned. There
is no time limit set, but the
word Immediate" is specific. There
is no demand for modification OF sub
marine warfare, but for definite aban'
donment, a complete cessation OF its
present methods.
The Presidents address 10 Congress
is a plain yet eloquent statement Of a
series OF facts that are eloquent in
themselves. He reviews the events
Of the past fifteen months in relation
to submarine warfare upon merchant
vessels, and the continuous efforte to
the established rules OF international
law and to a recognition Of the rights
Of neutrals upon the high seas. He
points to the solemn assurances repeat
edly given by the German Government
that passenger ships, at least, would
not be destroy ed, and to the repeated
disregard Of these assurances by Ger
man submarine commanders. He calls
attention to the growing extent and
increasing ferocity Of this warfare which
does not confne itself to the vessels Of
belligeTen,s, but includes those Of
neutral nations, and even those plying
between neutral ports. And the roll
OF Americans who have lost their lives
on ships thus attacked and destroyed" J"
he adds with concise emphasis, has
grown month by month until the omi-
nous toll has mounted into hundreds" /"
The Sussex is linked with the Lusi-
tania as an instance so singularly
tragical and unjustifable as 10 consti-
tute truly terrible example Of the in
humanity Of submarine warfare as the
commanders Of German vessels have
for the past twelve months been con-
ducting it,. No doubt is expressed
Of German guilt in the case Of the SuS-
sex, and no reference is made in the
address TO the fantastic report Of the
German Government in regard TO this
vessel, but the note ITSELF pronounces
the evidence conclusive.
But the tenor Of the entire address
is the impossibility Of carrying on sub.
marine war against vessels Of com
merce without violation Of the rights
oil neutrals and the principles OF hu-
manity. 1t comedies the sincerity Of
the German Government in its expla
nations and assurances. but points 10
the record as incontestable proof that
such warfare cannot be conducted in
observance OF these rights and with ad-
herence 10 these principles, and there
fore demands its abolishment.
1t is hardly necessary 10 say that the
United States will indorse the presi-
dents words, and will support whatever
action may be necessary Tor the pro-
lection Of American rights and the pre-
servation Of American honor. We do
not desire war with Germany, or with
any other nation, and we hope that even
a severance OF diplomatic relations will
not lead TO that dread eventually, but
the destruction OF American lives in
the sinking Of peaceful ship Of COM
merce is intolerable and the govern
ment would be false to its trust if it
did not take vigorous action when
measures Of diplomacy have been ex'
hausted, as they seem tc have been in
this case. No one can say that Amer
lea has been hasty. No one can say
that it has not been patient under