The Irish standard., 1917-02-24
Germany Will Free
ireland and India
Former Mayor Mcclure of Syracuse
Sees Hope for Erin in Teuton
Victory.

Il
dia in the event that she is success
full in maintaining an effective sub
marine blockade about the entente ma
tons.
This is the conviction of James X.
Mcclure, former mayor of Syracuse,
who today read between the lines OF
the German note a definite promise OF
aid to Ireland and India.
U-Boat War to Aid Ireland.
Mr.. MCGUIRE says unrestricted sub
marine warfare may prove blessing
in disguise to the Irish, in that it
would stop expectation of food prod
ucts and so insure a plentiful supply
to the poor of that country, who an
nnally are threatened with famine and
starvation.
GIN the excitement over the block
ade and an unrestricted submarine
campaign, a declaration of tremendous
Importance is being forgotten said
Mr.. Mcclure today He continued:
81 refer to the official declaration of
the German government recognizing
the principle of political independence
and freedom for Ireland and India.
Strike Britain in England.
This momentous declaration coming
at this time is more than a passing
allusion to the long struggle for Irish
liberty 1t means that Germany has
abandoned all thought of settling the
war on the territory gained in the far
East
The mighty struggle entered into
finally has become one of life or death
either to the German or the British
empires.
Evidently, Germany has determined
to strike the very vitals of the British
empire which is England, and the
great significance of the message is
the expectancy of Germany that she
will separate Ireland from England as
Rome separated states from Carthage
and thus destroyed that great mari
time power.
ireland Shelters England.
Germany will never find freedom on
the seas until she conquers England
and the map shows Ireland is the
gateway to Europe, sheltering Eng
land. Germany sees that Ireland must
first be made free if the seas are to
be opened.
If the submarine blockade proves
successful the note implies that Ger
many intends to free Ireland as the
first step to break down effectively
British world power.
1t is significant that no German
warships have bombarded the coast of
Ireland since the war began, nor have
German submarines nor Zeppelins at
tackled the fortified points in Ireland.
Blockade Blessing.
Ireland will be least affected of any
country blOckaded if she has held on
to the volume of her food production
of the last year. Curiously enough,
that island is the sole territory of
the allies where an unrestricted sub
marine warfare may prove a blessing
in disguise, at the worst lesser evil
If the native food OF the island can
be bottled up for the use of the in
habitants the country will be saved
from famine and starvation. All
friends of Ireland have been urging
the farmers to resist the tempting de-
mand to export their products for the
attractive gold at war prices.
Farmer Is Prosperous.
The Irish farmer. as result of the
war, never made so much money, as
the savings and loan banks reports
prove. But the inhabitants of Dublin
and other cities are suffering where
there are no munitiOn factories pay
rolls.
Famine was due in March, accord
ing to the best authorities, because of
poor crop of potatoes and the drain
of food from Ireland to England was
increased enormously by the necessi-
ties of the war. So that even partly
successful submarine campaign will
prevent the inhabitants from parting
with their food and there may be suf-
ficient food left in the country to feed
the inhabitants this winter and COM
ing spring.
England took out of that small coun-
try last year more than 500. O0O, 900
worth of cattle. hogs and sheep. $l2,-
100000 in eggs and poultry and an
enormous tonnage Of potatoes. figures
for which are not available. There is
no meat-packing industry in ireland,
the young cattle are exported. fed and
killed in England
Big Shortage of Wheat.
There will be a shortage of wheat
and flour, of which Ireland imports
$4O,OOO,000 a year, but the people can
substitute potato bread for wheat,
H.