The Washington herald., 1917-03-11
What Leading Newspapers
Say on the War Situation
Cleared for Action,
New York WORLDLY


whether or not We are to be at war with
Germany. Long before that time many
OF the ships will have been armed and
will have crossed the prohibited zone.
Germany will have had full opportunity
to attack them and they will have had
full opportunity to use their guns In self
defense.
1t must be plain by this time even to
the German general staff and the German
admiralty that the United States will
not submit TO being ordered Off the seas,
and that all the military. financial and
economic resources Of the country will be
employed, IL necessary, to maintain SOW
ereign rights and national honor. We
cannot expect that this knowledge will
have SOLDERING effect upon the German
government, and most of US no longer
care
The issue is decided so far as this coun-
try is concerned. and the first armed
American ship that leaves an American
than any gun-the full power of the
United States government backed by
practically the unanimous sentiment of
the american people.
The Nations viii.
New York rmea)
Protection against pirates,
of no nation, is a very different matter
from protecting the commerce Of the
country against German submarines,
which, although they are the public ships
OF nation with which we are nominally
at peace and fly its flag, nevertheless are
as ruthless as pirates and as lawless. At
time when our ships, sailing distant
seas infested by pirates. found 1t neces-
sary to arm themselves, there was obvious
mr. rfaNN- g. L
warships flying the flag of a recognized
nation. A needless act by the commander
OF an armed merchantmen at that time
might have brought on war. The present
situation Is so radically different that the
old statute is inapplicable. It Is a situa-
ton beyond the ken and intent Of those
who enacted the law. 1t is we'll that the
President should have the special au-
thority he seeks to obtain, and there are
other reasons for convening Congress in
extraordinary session. Necessary appro-
priations failed of enactment at the last
session. and provisions for the national
defense in many ways not yet considered
by Congress imperatively present them
selves as subjects for legislation.
The Road Is Cleared.
New York TribuneD
No President ever had a better
whole nation than has Mr.. Wilson; no
President ever had a more propitious
moment to earn the support of a united
nation by translating into action its un-
mistakable will.
The Tribune trusts that Mr.. Wilson, in
the five weeks interval before Congress
meets, will not return to the policy of
"watchful waiting" which can no longer
be justified, even by the weak, II once
accurate, argument that the country Is
not ready. The country is ready. The
last stronghold of obstruction, the United
States Senate, has surrendered. The last
defenders Of German interests against
American lives have fed their position.
Mr.. Wilson should now act with
promptness. If, as 1t now seems, 1t lies
within his power to arm merchantmen in
advance of the meeting Of Congress, the
Tribune believes he should do 1t. Any
action he takes can be taken with the
fore-knowledge that It will be supported
by nation at last awake to the mean
ing of German methods and the menace
to it of German world policies
What Price, This Friendship.
New York Sum-
Being at peace with Germany, though
she has slain more than 200 Of our citi-
zens on the high seas. and with Mexico,
though fully as many Of our people have
met death in most cruel form on her
SOIL there is no particular reason for us
to be excited because the twain have
perfected a system Of wireless communi-
cation.
Under the circumstances there Is moth
ing for US to do. So long as we have no
more than a diplomatic quarrel with
Germany we cannot protest Mexico's fur
nishing her with all desired Information
by wireless, nor receiving from her or
ders to be transmitted to the thousands
Of spies and emissaries Of unrest the
Kaiser has scattered about our territory.
Nor can we object effectively II, as is
reported. an army OF German reservists
from the United States is mobilizing
across the border In Mexico to do us In
jury. What right have we to complain it
subjects of friendly power desert for a.
time our friendly territory to seek that
of friendly neighbor?
The price we are to pay for all this
earnest friendship will be revealed sooner
or later.
1t may be revealed before Congress-
meets on April 1s in extra session at the
Presidents call.