New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-01

tached in that note were readily re-
garded as perm ssible yerbiage TO save
her face. We should in the irst place,
have taken our stand by the side or
tho Allies for the defence of Belgium
and of interust onal law. I hope the
American people will regard this note
in It's true light-as a defiance which
should find only one reply
"The first part of the note is Wild
and silly and futile said George
Haven Putnam. "and 1t has nothing
whatever to do with the issues. The
part about shipping shows that Ger
many 5 at last determined 70 do what
she has long threatened-to undertake
a submarine blockade, not Of Eng
land. but of American commerce. The
whole situation was compressed into
one sentence last week when speaker
at the Washington preparedness con
ference declared: Germany knows
whose face she can spit into.
characterization of Insults
"This last is not only an insult. IL
is an intensihcation Of all the insults
the Kaiser has heaped on our heads
during the course Of the war. IL is
more-it is an aggr4vation OF the Of
fences which Germany has time and
again committed against Us. We are
asked 20 place our commerce under the
wing Of the German Admiralty, 20
have Americans submit 20 German
made law. We have said three times
within the last few months that we
would send BernstorfT home If these
things continued. IL Is time that we
made good on some of the mighty
words our President has spoken. that
we did some of the things that. for
months We ought 70 have done. Late
| as II is. the American nation would
yet rise TO beck Up Wilson # he
/ showed the courage Of his former
words"
NO one need be in the least sur
prised at what has happened. said
George W. Perkins, 1T has been per
rectly evident for some time that Will
son was taking us into this very sltua-
ton. His policy of butting IN IN Mex
leo. with its dire consequences, has
been accompanied by a policy of but
ting in in European affairs. In both
cases our country has suffered humilia-
tion of the deepest sort. On the very
day that our troops are being With
drawn from Mexico. after q perfectly
I futile GLteNDN 70 EtN ma VIC iNNNtFN
this new afront from Germany.
Where vi lsOn Keeps Flag
II think YOU'D best ask for opinions
from the people who voted for Wilson
last November On the plea that ne has
protected me ard mine, has kept us out
of war and given US prosperity. /
notice that one of the conditions under
which the kind Kaiser IS going 70 let
US run ships is that the American flag
shall fy from the stern. That IS quite
appropriate-the rear Of everything is
where Wilson has put our Tag and
where il will stay until we get rid or
Wilson. Times without number since
ne first entered the White House L
have said he would 60 out Of It the
most discredited man who ever occu-
pied il. I now think he viii be fortu-
nate if he escapes impeachment
DR.. George W Kirchwey, formerly
dean Of the Law School Of Columbia
University. said;
"Germany's latest note should not
mike war between Germany and the
United States inevitable. IL will, OF
course. lead 70 protest from the United
States.
Blow to Peace 0vertures
The pote is q keen disappointment,
and certainly deals a hard blow AZ
President Wilson's peace oyertures.
Germany has adopted desperate meas
ures, which would seem TO indicate that