Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-02-07

warfare.
A starvation blockade of England,
the like Of which the world never has
seen, was announced to-day in notes
delivered to American Ambassador
Gerard, in Berlin, and to the State
Department here by Count Won Bern
storff.
paign conceived by Won Hindenburg,
it Is said here, on a magnitude never
even contemplated by Won Tirpitz.
Again the United States faces sew
crance OF diplomatic relations with
Germany with all its eventual posi-
bilities. President Wilson's repeated
warnings Of "a world aiire" and Sec
retary Lansing's verge Of war
statement are being recalled in the
capital tonight with feelings of ap-
prchcnsion and misgiying.
The Super Crisis.
Germany's action is the super cri-
sis Of all those that have stirred the
half years of world war.
Talk Of peace in Europe and Of
means of preserving the peace of the
world has gone glimmering.
President Wilson, incredulous at
first when the unofficial text of Ger
many's warning was taken to him, a t
once called for the official document,
which had Just been presented to Sec
rctary Lansing by the German am
bassador. Mr.. Lansing refused to
make Il comment. President Wilson
began at once a careful study of the
document.
The President has the task of de-
Gliding what shall be the course Of the
United States. Three immediate
steps appear among the possibilities.
Another Solemn Warning.
The United States might solemnly
warn Germany against violation Of
her pledges; it might be decided
that the German warning is suf1cien
notice Of an intention to disregard
those pledges and a sufficient warrant
for breaking off diplomatic relations !;
it might be decided to await the re-
suits of the blockade and determine
the course Of the United States as the
actual operations develop.
On almost every side Germany's s
drastic action is interpreted as an
open confession of the effectiveness
Of the would-be blockade. It is re-
sarded as determination to strike
back in defense.
German officials in the United
States estimate the food supply on
the British Isles will last month.
Plan to Starve England.
Admittedly the plan Is to carry
starvation to the doors Of England
with swift, staggering strokes as a
fulfllment Of Germany's announced
determination to use every weapon
and agency at her command to end
the war quickly. She counts on the
operations Of an unheard OF number
of submarines to deliver blows to
bring England to her knees within
60 days. One German official here
predicted to-day the war would be
over in month.
Gcrlnany's --latest Warming.
Conveyed to the world as her an
swer to the refusal Of the entente
allies to make peace, Germany's lat
est warning says:
"FrOm February |, 1917. within
barred zones around Great Britain,
France, Italy and in the Eastern
Mediterranean all sea traffic
forthwith will be opposed"
The text OF the note delivered by
Count Won Bernstorff follows:
MIR. Secretary Of State: Your eX-
cellency were good enough to trans
nit to the imperial government a
copy Of the message which the Presi-
dent Of the United States OF America
addressed to the Senate on the 22d
instant. The imperial government
has given it the earnest consideration
which the Presidents statements de-
serve, inspired as they are by deep
sentiment OF responsibility.
1T is highly gratifying to the i'm
perial government to ascertain that
the main tendencies OF this import
ant statement correspond largely to
the desires and principles professed
by Germany. These principles espe-
cially include self-govclnment and
equality Of rights for all nations.
Germany would be sincerely glad if
in recognition OF this principle coun-
tries like Ireland and India. which do
not enjoy the benefits OF political in
dependence, should now obtain their
Freedom
"The German people also repudi-
ate all alliances which serve to force
the countries into a competition for
might and to involve them in a net Of
selfish intrigues.' On the other hand,
GERMANY will gladly cooperate in all
efforts ~ prevent future wars. The
freedom OF ne seas. being prelimi-
nary condition Of the free existence
Of nations and the peaceful inter-
course between them, as we'll as the
open door for the commerce Of all
nations, has always formed part Of
the leading principles Of Germany's S
political program.
Germany Blamcs Enemies.
"All the more the imperial govern
ment regrets that the attitude Of her
enemies who are so entirely opposed
to peace makes 1t impossible for the
world at present to bring about the