The Washington herald., 1917-02-01
Policy Of Resumption Of Sub
marine Warfare Long
Anticipated.
EXPECT QUIET RECEPTION
Germans Declare Action Is
Forced by Arming Of Brit
ish Merchantmen.
Special Cable to The Washington Herald.

Berlin, Jan. 81. - Chancellor
Bethmann-Eiollweg Summoned the
American Ambassador. James W.
Gerard. to the foreign office shortly
after noon today and read him the
text of the new German note, request
ing that it be cabled to Washington
without delay.
1t had been sent by Sayville wire
less to Ambassador Won Bernstorf
ten hours before, and it was handed
to Mr.. Gerard only two hours before
a copy was given to Secretary Lam
sing by the Kaisers representative in
Washington.
These formahties complied with. the
note was then given for publication
to the American correspondents and
the German newspapers. -.
II Is held here TO make out a fat and
hsrd-and-fast case for Germany. There
is no disposition to quibbIe with it in any
,.Oarters, even the anti-Tirpitz journals
being resigned to it as inevitable. There
is veiled apprehension in some circles
that IL will mean trouble with America,
but the feeling among the street crowds
is that the Americans will understand
and will not interpose any objections, be-
cause they showed such sympathy with
the German desire for peace.
No Surprise to Gerard.
Ambassador Gerard has known Of the
coming of the note for at least a week
and, it is understood, informed Wash
ington days ago of its general tenor
In connection with the inquiries ne made
in behalf Of the Yarrowdale sailors to
the foreign office he discovered the ex-
istence OF the note, but was not Off
cially informed that 1t would be dispatch-
ed at this time. The Ambassador ex-
pected that the Chancellory would rive
more time for the peave leaven to work
before taking tine drastic step that is
now a deed accomplished.
Couldn't "HoId 1t Up."
There are reports that he made in
direct efforts to hold the note up" for
the present, but failed to do so because
the Won Tirpitz element showed a
dominant hand at the foreign ONCE,
under the evident instigation Of the
Emperor.
Germany intends to create a zone of
steel and powder around the British
Isles. Beween mines and submarines her
navalists are confident they can parsl 'ze |
British shipping and even starve he |
enemy out. There have been hume ous |
expert" articles in the newspapers for I,
the past three weeks advocating the Won |
Tirpitz threat of "frightfulness'' in case
the allies declined to enter into peace |
negotiations.
What the Note Means.
The note to Berlin means this:
For many months reports and documen-
tary evidence have been piling up at the |
admiralty showing that Great Britain |
was srming all her merchantmen, not |
only with stern guns, but with guns in |
the bow, and with naval crews. Many of |
them were given orders to hunt out |
submarines, la the Woodville case, and |
prizes were hung up by the admiralty for |
captains Of ships which sunk U-boats
This condition the German government |
has regarded as intoIerable It has tried |
to cope with it. but altogether too many |
submarines have been lost, and the YES
sells sunk mostly have been tramp steam
ers and trawlers plying between Britain, |
Scandinavia, Spain and the Mediterranean
countries.
Secretary Lansing's Views.
Reports from Washington show that
Secretary Lansing issued his celebrated
treatise on armed vessels so as to clear
up any doubt in Berlin as to the Official
American ATTITUDE. Ih1S memorandum i
eliminated the question of gun powder
altogether, saying fatty that a merchant
ship must go out hunting subs before
she can be regarded as engaged in Of
fensive warfare. Any other use of her
guns is defensive. he held. The powers
in the German admiralty smiled grimly
over this memorandum when ii reached
them last April and made no reply, know
ing that in time they would be able to
compel the foreign office to act in she
face OF it.
Germany is willing to supply the United
States with all the volumes Of evidence
she has accumulated regarding Illegal
practices Of British merchantmen. She
Justhes her new admiralty proclamation
as retaliation and reprisal forced upon a
people fighting for existence. Through
violation Of the law of blockade Britain
is attempting to stsrve the German peo-
pie into submission. the nation holds, and
Germany is entitled to try out the sane
tactics against England