The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-02-03
GREATEST crisis IN SUBMARINE WAR.
New Order issued by German Government.
Calls for the Sinking of All Vessels
Bound for Entente Ports.
Plan to Srve Out England and Her Allies in Retaliation
blockade Of German Coast President Wilson Undecided
on Couse, but Breach Of Relations With Germany Seems
Inevitable .fA- a.4

the negotiations over the Lusitania.
At that time Germany proposed to
guarantee immunity from attack to
certain specified passenger ships sail
ing on prescribed courses with dis
tinguished marks and carrying no
contraband. President Wilson reject
ed the proposal promptly OH the
ground that the United States was
contending only for it's rights.
The new German proclamation
brushes aside the perplexing collateral
issues which have surrounded the sub
marine controversy and has brought
II back to the point where 1t was left
at the conclusion Of the Sussex case.
Todays announcement, reciting the
refusal OF Germanys enemies to dis.
cuss her peace proposals and refer
ring to the starvation blockade. says:
thus a new situation has sprung
up which forces Germany also to nc
decisions"
The new decision Is exactly the one
forecast when the Sussex negotiations
were closed.
In convening her pledges to keep
submarine activities within interfa.
tional law. Germany included threat
Of resumption II the United States did
not succeed in lifting British restrc-
items on commerce to Germany and
the European neutrals and the United
States in reply expressly warned Ger
many that her pledges must he
absolutely unconditional.
'Neutrals." said Germany in the
Sussex note. can not expect that Ger
many. forced to fight for her exist
ence. shall for the sake Of neutral in
terSst restrict the nse of an effective
weapon II her enemy is permitted to
continue to apply at will methods of
warfare violating the rules OF finterna-
tional law. Should the steps taken by
the United States not attain the OBJ
5ect "a have the laws OF humanity fol-
I21ad ~ ~ beaitssrset nations. the
osrhan 'sUvsrnment would then De
facing new situation in which It
must reserve to itself complete liberty
Of decision"
To any such reservations the United
State demurred in no uncertain
terms.
"The United States feels 1t neces-
sary to state" said President Wilson'S
reply. that 1t takes 1t for granted
that the imperial German government
does not intend to imply that the
maintenance Of it's newly announced
policy Is In any way contingent on
the course or result Of diplomatic no.
gotiations between the government of
the United States and any belliger-
ent government. Notwithstanding the
fact that certain passages in the I'M
perial governments note might ap-
pear to be susceptible of that con-
struction.'
In completing the declaration that
there must be no Misunderstanding
that rights Of American citizens must
not be made subject to the conduct of
some other government. the note con-
cluded by saying:
Responsibility In such matters is
single. not joint; absolute, not
relative"
The development today came as q
staggering surprise. For weeks in
spired authoritative and almost semi.
official statements have been coming
from Berlin indicating an absolute
decision not to resume unrestricted
submarine warfare. The complete
agreement Of the emperor, Chancellor
-Hollweg, Gen. Won Hinden-
burg and Gen. Won Ludendorff, tho
four men In whose hands Germany's
destiny lies. has been mentioned fire.
quently In dispatches passing the cen.
sor.
Information received only today,
however. shows that q very careful
campaign for the full use of sea forces
has been under way recently. 1t HI
been urged as essential to Germany
existence and 1t was represented that
II would be impossible now for Pres
ident Wilson to get the American pc:
pie behind him In a declaration o
war. Congress was represented as
opposed to war.
Germany. according to information
received here. realizes that the actor
may result In break Of relations
but Berlin officials ure prepared for
the rupture. Tonight they were rep
resented as feeling that the only 9th
er steps open to the United state:
are the calling Of conference OF