The Washington herald., 1917-02-01
Press Of u. S. Solid
In Editorial Comment
For Teutonic Break
New York Worlds

mere can De only one answer on lne
part of the United States to the new
Serman submarine proclamation, and
hat answer should be made today. The
German Amba ssador must receive his
passports forwith and diplomatic rela-
ions must cease at once. There should
>e no procrastination until the hand OF
he United States government Is forced
oy premeditated murder and depreciation.
The President must carry out the terms
of his own ultimatum, and do 1t so swift
ty that Berlin can have no excuse tor
misunderstanding the purpose and poicy
af the American government.
Having done that, the United states
must adopt such measures as circum-
stances require for the protection OF the
lives and property OF Its citizens on the
high seas. II this means actual war with
Germany, so be it"
New York Heraldi
This is the defiant answer of the Ger
man government to the ultimatum OF the
United States, delivered on April IL Of last
rear: That unless the imperial govern
ment should now Immediately declare ana
affect an abandonment of its present
methods Of submarine warfare, the gov
ernment OF the United States can nave
no other choice than to sever diplomatic
relations with the German empire alto
gether.'
oyer this latest outburst Of Prussianisnl-
II reflects the desperation Of defeat and
Is exactly what has been expected would
come when the inevitabtlity OF defeat
broke through the Prussian consciousness.
II means the throwing to the winds OF all
pretense of decency, of all adherence TO
the tenets Of civilization. 1t marks the
dnal turning Of the Prussian warlords to
their God Thor, the submarine being
Thor's hammer
New York sunI
1T is q threat of frightfulness in the
unrestricted use Of submarines and EN-
sea mines beyond anything yet regS ded
as possible by our government and Ieo-
pie. The note Of yesterday closes TO the
present the chapter Of altruistic en- saV-
ors and tentatives OF parley into 1ich
President Wilson has written his 4eal-
tstic hopes.
1T creates an entirely new sitI ton
of the most practical sort, so far as S'e
United States is concerned. and serious
in the extreme in its possibilities Of IN
toward incidents which may put to the
test the steadfastness of Washington In
it's attitude and assertion of the princi-
pies which our State Department has
already enunciated."
New York Tribunet
Inc states Cannot "lluOuN
the completest loss of self-respect. ac-
cept the conditions which Germany
now announces she will impose on our
commerce with Western Europe.
Mr.. Wilson went to great length
in playing Germany's hand, but the
diversion failed. The country must
now face the situation which he tried
SO hard to avoid facing.
1T is plain that the preposterous
LII
admiralty proclamation cannot be sub
mitted to. The United States ought
not to condone any longer Germany's
murderous high seas warfare on neu-
trails and noncombatants. American
rights have never been more flag
rantly assailed than they are In this
latest declaration Of German military
ruthlessness.
I'VE have submitted to outrage long
enough. Peace with Germany would
be purchased at too dear a price II 1t
is to be purchased by compliance with
the Raiser's latest insulting instruc-
tions to US as to how we shall con-
duct our commerce with the Entente
nations"
Louisville Courier-JournalI
"Germany's action is a virtual challenge
OF war to mankind. 1t is a direct chal-
lenge Of war to the United States. 1t is
no time for further parleying. That chal-
lenge should be accepted within "a hours,
and the war thus entered in by America
should not end until the imperial des-
potism Of Germany, which dares plunge
the world into such a war. is completely
and eternally crushed"
The Boston Posts
The German declaration today an
nouncing the determination to begin at
once an indiscriminate and unrestricted
submarine warfare against the commerce
Of the world, neutrals as well as hos
tile, brings this matter to as grave a
crisis as has been developed in the whole
course of the great contest.
Since her promise of last May Ger
many has sunk more allied ships than
ever. but sunk them legitimately and
with respect for International US ages.
Why should she now go back to T lght-
IUness with the inevitable result OF re-
newins the bitterness of neutrals against
her and the chance of arousing more than
passive hostility?
The answer appears to be that the
Kaiser and Won Bethmann-HoIlweg have
lost their more sane and pacific grip on
German affairs and that Won Tirpitz and
the junker element have triumphed. But
to what avail? Nothing but humiliation
and almost sure defeat can or should fol-