New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
The American Answer


only answer that could be given honoraoiy
70 the German Governments last arrogant
and brutal note In that note the United
States was hidden practically to etface IT.
self-to forego its rights on the high seas
nc sacrifice to German military neces-
sites
II has not been the habit of the United
States to yield to intimidation OF that sorC
We fought the Beys and Pachas OF the
Barbary States when they tried to make US
nav tribute for the privilege Of navigating
the waters of the Western Mediterranean
When we were weak and impoverished
nation. wofully unprepared to attack
others or even to defend ourselves, we
declared war on Great Britain because
Great Britain had abridged and violated
our maritime rights.
We are a rich and powerful nation now
although still wofully unprepared 1or
either offence or defence. But our lamen-
table condition of unpreparedness-due to
LONG governmental neglect-could not eX-
cuse us from facing Germany's challenge
as firmly and courageously as the feeble,
unorganized United States of Madison's
time faced the challenge of Great Britain,
then. as now, the mistress of the seas.
For President Wilson has met Ger
many's challenge fatty and squarely.
Whatever faith he may still have in Ger
many's disincination to force war on the
United States-to leave unfulhlled her
threat TO resume indiscriminate submarine
warfare on neutrals and non-combatants-
he has now put it beyond the power of the
United States to debar automatically any
longer the illegally of Germany's acts.
With the dismissal of Ambassador Won
Bernstorff and the recall of Ambassador
Gerard the issue between the United
States and Germany is finally made up.
The first overt act on Germany's part in
violation of the pledges given by her IN
tie diplomatic settlement reached after
the Sussex incident will be the signal for
war Our government is pledged to treat
as casus beli the first German subma-
rine operation through which American
lives are endangered by the sinking of a
merchantmen without search or warning,
and without regard being had for the
safety of those on board
We do not share the Presidents conf
dence that Germany will now omit doing
what she has given frank notice Of her
intention to do. Her government is des-
perate. Her people are desperate. They
.re both obsessed with the great Tirpitz
delusion - that a campaign Of unre-
strained frightfulness at sea will bring
Germany that victory which two and a
half years Of fighting on land-and fairly
successful fighting at that-have failed
10 bring
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg has
represented consistently the elements in
Germany which have opposed the policy
Of running amuck at sea. These mod
crate elements have hoped, but hoped in
vain for a decision on land Now popu-
lar pressure-the growing unrest Of the
German civilian population, drifting near
or and nearer to the edge Of starvation
has forced the Chancellor TO accept the
Tirpitz programme Of submarine ferocity.
He said the other day canddly, perhaps
little mournfully that Germany was
now stalking everything on one last, des-
perate play. He realizes--if Tirpitz and
his diseased followers do not clearly
realize that just because the sub
marine campaign cannot win for Ger
many unless IL is pushed 70 the extreme
Of ruthlessness It is bound 10 drive all neu-
trail nations severely affected by IT into the
beleaguering circle Of Germany enemies.
The German note Of last Wednesday
was a bald defiance Of all the neutrals--
challenge 70 them 20 take up arms
against Germany. the United States
vas not singled out in that document as
tho only neutral likely 20 be converted
into sn enemy. SPANS maritime rights
we're cancelled. so were Hollands, Den
49,. Il o....A1n,.