The Washington herald., 1917-03-01
What Newspapers Are Saying
On the War Situation
In Defense of American Liberty.

(Nev York TimesI
casuistry cannot disguise nor ingenuity
palliate the crime Of the German subma-
rine commander who sank the Laconia.
He murdered American citizens II was
an overt act. The President did not, he
could not, change or limit the meaning of
those words when he said to the Senate
three weeks ago that "only actual overt
acts" could make him believe that the
German government would disregard its
solemn obligation. An act which impairs
or denies the right Of the American people
ito liberty and justice and unmolested
life" is an overt act against the sover-
eighty of their nation. Every circum-
stance OF atrocity Is present in the case
of the Laconia.. The attack was made
without warning, in the darkness of night.
The submarine commander could have
had no certain means of knowing that It
was not an American ship that he at
tackled. that there were no Americans
aboard. To make sure of his deadly pur-
pose, he discharged against the Laconia
two torpedoes. Only because of the i'm
mensely greater loss of life does the
destruction of the Lusitanis differ from
that OF the Laconia. There was the same
disregard OF law, the same evident pur-
pose to destroy the ship with all on board.
II is futile. and something worse than
futile 1t is evidence of a depraved mind,
to argue that the submarine is new
weapon to which the rules of civilized
warfare do not apply. The evolution OF
the principles of international law through
the ages reveals a consistent and cease
less purpose to forbid and make odious
acts Of savagery in whatever manner ara
with whatever instrument committed. I'm
Mt oh nv ollInn riOa is TeHer-
sion to the ambush and the tomahawk.
II cannot be defended or excused, 1t Is in
humanity cruel. it is the deed Of an assas-
sin sss
New York World.
"'' 1t is a disgrace to Congress. 1t Is
a disgrace to the American people, 1t Is
a disgrace to the eternal principles Of
the republic that there could have been
even an hours wrangling and haggling
over the question whether the United
States should maintain its honor or sur
render abjectly to German ruthlessness.
The President had asked of Congress
the smallest measure of power that
Chief Magistrate mindful of his obliga-
tions and responsibilities could have de-
manded. He had asked the least that a
patriotic Congress could have granted
II Congress Is to differ at all with the
President the difference should be on the
side OF greater powers than Mr.. Wilson
has requested-of treating Germany s
submarine policy as ipso facto an act OF
| war, to be answered at once by a declara-
| tion of war on the part OF the United
States.
President Wilson erred on the side OF
moderation, but the policy he proposed
l. nevertheless a staIwart American pol
icy. sustained by precedents and wholly
| in harmony with the theory of public de-
fense against foreign aggression. The
welfare of the country required from
Congress either an immediate response
| to the Presidents request for limited
power. or an unqualified mandate to en-
pIoy all the naval and military forces of
the United States in resistance to Ger
many's murderous warfare against neu-
trails. Congress has done neither.
Time to Declare War.
New York Tribunel
At last the administration faces an
overt act" on Germany's part which IT
can hardly explain away. American citi-
zens travelling on the Laconia have been
| murdered under exactly the same condi-
| tions as those under which American
citizens were murdered nearly TWO years
ago on the Lusitania and the Arabic.
Mr.. Wilson has said many times that
| he would not tolerate any more such
murders lie has pledged himself again
| and again to protect our people in their
| legitimate and peaceful pursuits on the
seas" The implication OF all his prom
| ises has been that If one more Ameri-
| can life should be sacrificed he would
| meet force with force.
Now the occasion has come which COM
| peEs him to make his words good. II
| those words mean anything, the admin
| istration is bound in honor to ask Con-
gress to declare war.
Is This Sufficiently "ONert."
Two American women lost their lives
as the result of the sinking of the La
| COMA by a German submarine last Sun
| day night.
| In his first Lusitania note President
| Wilson said
American citizens act within their in
] disputable rights in taking their Qhe
belligerentsD SHIPS and il travelling wher-
ever their legitimate business calls them
| upon the high seas. The imperia.
German government will not expect the
government of the United States to omit
! any word or any act necessary to the
performance of it's sacred duty of main
tanning the rights of the United States
and its citizens and of safeguarding their
free exercise and enjoyment"
| And in his appeal to Congress for au-
thority to handle according to his own
| ideas the present international crisis the
| President said
The overt act which I have ventured
to hope the German commanders would
! IN fact avoid has not occurred"
At that very hour the bodies of an
American mother and daughter were
| tossing on the icy waters of the Irish
Sea. victims to Prussian ruthlessness.
| Is this act sufficiently "overtT"
The Boston Transcript.
The Laconia supplies the missing link.
Germany has at last accommodated the
| United States with an overt act. The de-
| struction of the Laconia and the massa-
| ere of Americans makes II all the more
imperative for both Houses OF Congress
to line up with the people behind the
President
0PHELIA'S SLATE.