The Washington herald., 1917-02-18
What Leading Newspapers
Say on the War Situation
Prompt Action Is Imperativ
iBmokl,p E,s,.1


We are suffering from the effects of a
state of war without ourselves declar-
ing war or having war formally de-
clared against us. With q few daring
exceptions, American ships are COVER
Ing In port, intimidated by German
threats and unable TO obtain from WASH
ingeon promise of protection. If our
citizens sail for Europe to discharge their
lawful errands they do so under foreign
flags. The commonest ana most innocent
junction of our ocean commerce, the
transportation of mails, is surrendered un-
DER compuision by our own ships and
turned over to British liners ready to
buffet their way through the submarine
peril with the aid of 6-inch guns and
conveys. Our dock terminals are con-
gested with freight, and manufacturing
ana exporting enterprise is beginning to
feel cort of creeping paralysis.
Watchful waiting has its advantages,
ana no one at this critical juncture
would wish to hurry the administra-
tion into rash or precipitste step. But
the administration has already gone far
enough to indicate at least a leaning
toward a policy which, IL formally and
emphafically declared, would secure some
measure OF safety to American COM
merce and revive the dropping self-re-
spect OF American citizens It
should answer In such fashion that our
purpose will not be misunderstood by the
practiced assassins directing the subma-
rine campaign, nor by the spineIess cow
ards and traitors among our own people
VINO are giving aid and comfort to Ger
many by protesting against any, asser-
foot.
Facing the Future.
New Yorf WORLDLY
God knows where we will land IL this
country enters the war;" EXCLAIMED
James r. Mann, the leader of the Renub-
lican minority in the House of Repre-
sentatfves, in the course of a speech
yesterday.
But where shall we land II We permit
Germany TO make war upon us indefi-
nitely without lifting a finger to protect
our rights or our self-respect? That is
the real question.
We have Gonna 70 . rot,, o+
which our national interests run parallel
10 the interests Of the western countries
that are at war with Germany Every
thing that we represent in government is
now bound up with the cause for which
Great Britain and France and Belgium
are fighting. There could be no peace or
security for US with Germany that
dominated Europe. Has Mr.. Mann thought
of that? II by any possibility our re-
fusal to protect our rights and make good
our word should enable Germany to win
this war, nothing would remain for US
but to turn the United States into an
armed camp and prepare to make the last
stand for democracy.
We can no longer find safety in a policy
of nonresistance. We have tried that
with Germany and II has failed The
fault is not our fault. but 1t is now our
duty to recognize the facts OF the case
and meet them squarely. There Is no
reace for anybody in this world until
German Imperialism has been smashed
and every autocracy has learned the les
son of that downfall. To paraphrase the
language of Mr. Mann God knows where
we will land IL this country blinds itself
to that great truth!
Who in the Devil Isr
CNev York SUM-
Maine men all but two. the crew of the
Lyman NJ. Law. sunk by an Austrian sub
marine; and the twain of Provincetown
Yankee and a Jamaican. the latter, may
be- sable lord of the galley. Bucksport,
Bangor, Belfast, winterport and Swan
Island claim the Downeasters landed on
an sinhospitable coast with their dunnage,
II there was time to drop 1t alongside.
Probably there. wasn't. and the Lord only
knows what the marooned seamen stood
In. Those Maine towns are all talking
about the fate of the Lyman NJ Law;
Provincetown at the tip OF the cape, too;
and what they are saying would send
shivers down the spine Of a pacifst IL
the pacifist had any spine.
Now, IL they are not entitled to
protection. who IN the devil is? Exactly.
The case is plain: A Yankee sailing ship
loaded with shocks made in Maine for
lemon crates and not contraband. and a
Yankee crew; therefore unsuitable by
international law. Green's 'ff they are
not entitled to protection. who in the
devil is?' hits the bullseye, and the bell
rings in every American breast from
Maine to Oregon.