Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-03-10
CROSSING OF THE RUBICoN.


The die has been cast at last. Presi-
dent Wilson has decided to arm
merchantmen, and when such are
menaced in using the ocean, the COM:
mon highway for all nations Of the
earth. by cruel and unreasonable.
monsters Of the deep they will use
their guns, in self-defense. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether Germany
really means to carry out her threat
to sink all ships caught IN zones
which her war lords are pleased TO
term barred Many people In the
United States still believe the leu
tons are bluffing, and that their
bombastic utterances are intended Tor
home consumption, large percentage
of the people of the Fatherland being
in absolute want and demanding that
the war be brought to an immediate
close or something to bring ABOUT
instant relief. The Teutons are grad
uallv opening their eyes to the fact
that they have been victlmlzed by
their leaders who have not made
good their promises of three 1ears
ago. Paris has not been captured,
nor has England been brought to her
knees
The internal conditions of Ger
many are grave-their own ministers
admit as much--while their vast
fighting machine, regarded as lnvln-
chile and before which nothing it was
dreamed could stand, is virtually
surrounded today, and gradually fall
ing back from this and that position
before the courageous French and
English.
Bulgaria is clamoring for sepa-
rate peace, while the future course
of Austria has caused apprehension
to the Kaiser since the death OF
Francis Joseph.
The Kaiser, who for years, it has
been suggested, slept in a uniform
and was lulled to sleep by the rattle
of a sabre, is isolated, he it is be-
iicved being physical! and probably
Il mental wreck, kept alive by power
full stimulants.
The Presidents decision is almost
universally applauded. 1t is regarded
as the act of self-respecting NATION,
determined to defend it's rights
against the assumption Of nation
that has lost its senses.
AS is suggested BY one of the
papers of the capital city this morn
ing, the American people meet the
action of their government with grim
satisfaction. Confident of their abil
ity to take care of themselves, slow
to wrath but sure Of strength, they
have watched the Towering of ger
man Barbarism with the mixture of
pity, contempt. and concern that it'll
deserves, have endured the. outrage
of their own rights with the highest
fortitude of forbearance shown by
am. modern nation, have asked for
peace with the quiet strength OF q i
neutral loath to take part in a blood |
phantasmagoria Of decadent dyuas-
ties. They have borne the singing
charge they were shirking their /
share in a struggle to preserve civili-
zation Indignantly, and yet with
certain uncomfortable feeling Ihat
there was a show of justice in the
accusation.
There is a growing conviction that
it is American destiny to assist in
giving this insane Hohenzollern bru-
tally its death blow.
Whatever the future holds, we are
for it War may not mean
the sending of millions of American |
youths to the trenches in France,
but it at least means that our full
economic resources will be cast with
the allies. The American navy may
show it can cope with the U-boat !
peril in Il way to cause emulation in
Great Britain.