The Washington times., 1917-02-22
Country's Wars All Began After
Some Concrete 0ffense
Which Stirred Nation.
DIFFICULT OF DEFINITION
Deeds Less Shocking Than Ger
many's Caused Conflict Of
1912, Say Authorities.

and Germany, Americans have been
watching for an "overt act" which
President Wilson informed Congress
would form the basis for action by
this country.
In view OF the fact that there u
no definition OF covert act" to be
found In international law. it Is
doubtful II many Americans would
know one when they read or heard OF
It Many governments have expert
enced difficulty in recognizing covert
acts" after they were committed.
covert acts have been perpetrated
and passed practically unnoticed.
while demonstrations not intended as
covert acts" have been wrongly in
terpreted and wars resulted.
Five covert Aetss In History.
Americans, however. have five
'overt acts" In the history OF their
country to guide them They are:
Marching OF the British army on
Concord in 17T5.
British depredations on commerce.
impressment OF American seamen, and
firing on the United States frigste
Chesapeake in 1872.
Invasion of United States territory
and storming OF Fort Brown, Texas,
by General Arista, of the Mexican
army, in 1S46-
Firing on the steamer Star of the
West and Fort Sumter by Confeder-
ates in 1851.
Destruction of the battleship Maine
in Havana harbor in 1898.
CoIonists Acted Spontaneously.
1t was not by governmental decree
that the marching of the British army
on Concord in 17T5 was construed as
an covert act" for there was no ma
tional government in America in those
days. The colonists acted spontane-
ously and concertedly, without any
sanction or order.
covert acts" following each othe' b
In the most rapid succession, provoked
the war of 1912. History shows a
strong similarity between the pa
thence and endurance of the American
Government 105 years ago and today.
The problems which confronted thi!
Government then as a result OF the
repeated anronts and violations OF
the rights OF nations by Great Brit
ain were almost as numerous as those
which President Wilson has faced be
cause of Germany's submarine war
fare methods.
Acts Less Shocking Then.
However, the United States went TO
war with England in 1872 for covert
acts" far less shocking, deliberate,
and atrocious than have been com
mitted by Germany during the. past
year, according to authorities Oh his
tory and international law
Searching and firing on an Ameri-
can vessel which left Washington for
New York precipitated the war of
1872 Incidentally the striking of the
colors by the commander OF the YES
sci and his submission to the search
in his being court-martiaIed
and suspended for fve years.
Decatur Killed I'm Duel
The participants in the duel were
Barron and Commodore
Decatur, a controversy which arose
between them because of Barron's
having reached the personal .
stage.
The duel was staged at Bladens-
burg. Nd, just outside of Washing
ton, In 1920. Decatur was killed in
the "affair OF honor" while Barron
was severely wounded.
General Taylor, commanding the
American forces on the Mexican bor-
der In 1876, employed a ruse to draw
General Arlsta across the boundary
line and invade a fort within the
limits OF the United States.
General Taylor pretended to aban-
lon Fort Brown opposite Matamoros.
The Mexicans, who had protested
against the fortihcation and occupa-
90
across the Rio Grande to
lake possession of it themselves, be-
ieving it had been left vacant BY
General Tayior's forces.
Firing ON Vessel War Act.
An American regiment had been
left in the fort. however, and when
he Mexicans drew within range they
we're fred upon. and the Mexican war
.hus began.
Although the besieging of Fort
Sumter by Confederates Is generally
to have constituted the
overt act" which precipitated ths
,ivil war, this demonstration pre-
,eded the outbreak of hostilities by
many months. What was Interpreted
Is the covert act' warranting war
between the North and South was
he firing on the steamship Star of
he West, carrying provisions 20
Major AndNson. the Federal com
nander at Fort Sumter.
The vessel was driven out OF the har-
,or which it was attempting to enter
With food for the soldiers in, the be-
legged fort Although the Star OF the
Vest was not severely damaged by the
Norris Island batteries. the mere firing
m her was considered clearly an act OF
var.
War Follows MaIne's Destruction.
While it has never been incontrovert-
bly, established that the Spanish gov
.rnment or its agents had anything to.
10 with the blowing up of the battle
hip Maine in Havana harbor on the
light of February Is. 1895 it was be-
ieved at that time that Spaniards were
for the catastrophe. and a
OF war quickly followed
The blowing up Of the Maine was not
made the official provocatlon for the
var. but II came at a times like the
present day. when the country was
Keyed up to war-pitch. and the powder
needed but a spark to touch it off.
Authorities on international law pro-
ess to have seen "a great number OF
vert acts on the part of the German
government toward this country since
he ruthless submarine policy was de-
,ided upon," but the State Department