New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-20
Germany at War
With u. S. Since
Feb. l, T. R. Says
"U. S. Has Done Nothing
but Shelter Itself Behind
a Foreign Fleet"
Demands Quick Action
Colonel Calls on Americans
to Stop Murder of Women
and Children

The news this morning OF the SINK
ing of three Of our ships, with loss OF
American lives, makes it imperative
that every self-respecting American
should speak out and demand that we
hit hard and effectively in return says
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in a state
ment issued at Oyster Bay yesterday
"Words are wasted upon Germany
What is needed is effective and THOR
oughgoing action.
"Seven weeks have passed since GER
many renewed with the utmost ruin
lessness her never wholly abandoned
submarine war against neutrais anu
non-combatants. She then notified our
government Of her intention. This noti-
fcation was itself declaration OF war,
and should have been treated as such'
During the seven weeks that nave
since elapsed she has steadily "sged
war upon us. II has been war OIL
murder upon US. She has killed Amer
lean women and children. as well as
American men. upon the nigh seas. Sne
has sunk our ships; our ports have peen
put under blockade.
"She has asked Mexico and Japan TO
ioin with her in dismemberlng TINS
country. II these are not overt ac's
of war. then Lexington and Bunker mn
were not overt acts of war. 1t Is well
20 remember that during the last two
years the Germans have killed as many
or almost as many Americans as were
slain q. Lexington and Bunker Hill
and whereas the British in open conflict
slew armed American fighting men, the
Americans whom the Germans nave
slain were women and children and un-
armed men going peacefully about their
lawful business.
Calls Pro.Germans Traitors
"such arc the conditions. Any Amer
lean citizen who is now pro-Germsn IS
a traitor TO this councry-ss mucn
traitor as any Tory who upheld the
British cause against Washington. AS
for the pscifsts. they stand on lever
with the copperheads who in 1904 de-
nounccd and asssiled Abraham Lincoln.
"Seven weeks ago VIC broke rclalons
with Germany. This was eminently
proner. But il amounted to nothing
il was an empty gesture. unless 1t was
followed b. vigorous and cficlent ac-
ZION Yet during the seven weeks a
time as long as the entire duration OF
tho war between Prussia and Austria
In 1860 we have done nothing. we
have not even prepared. We have spent
our times discussing the proposal 20
nav Colombia 100000 blackmsll. TO
atone for having refused TO pay her
$40 600 900 of blackmail fourteen years
ago. In the days when this Republic
prized manhood. favorite motto va
Millions for defence. but not one cen'
for tribute Apparently our present
motto is Twenty-Five millions for trio-
ute. but not a cent for defence. .,
"I-nder existing conditions armed
neutrality is only another name for
timid war and Germany despises tinid.
ity as she despises all other forms o.
feebleness. She does not wage tlmiq
war herself. and she neither respects
nor understands it in others. Seem
ingly her submarine warfare has iailed
end is less menacing now than u was
seven weeks ago. We arc proiiting and
shall profit by this failure.
"But we have done nothing to bring
il about. II has been dore solely b
tho efficiency OF the British navy. We
have done nothing 10 help ourselves
We have done nothing 10 secure our
own safety or 20 vindicate our own
honor. We have been content TO shell
ter ourselves behind the feet of for
eign power.
Lets Look Truth in the Face
Such a position is intolerable TO all
self-respecting Americans, who are
proud Of the great heritage handed
down TO them by their fathers and their
fathers father. Let US dare 10 look
truth in the face. Let US dare to use
our own strength in our own defence
and strike hard for our national inter-
est and honor.
There is no question about going
TO war Germany is already az war
with US. The only question for US 70
decide is whether We shall make war
nobly or ignobly. Let US face the ac-
complished fact. admit that Germany
is at war with US. and IN turn wage
war oil Germany with all our energy
and courage and regain the right to
look the whole world in the eyes with