Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-02-01
COMMENT BY PRESS
Continued from Page One)

This means impossible conditions for the
United States and no American in his
senses would consider for moment ac-
quesence in Germanys action. 1t is a
grave question whether President Wilson
should not hand to the German ambassa-
dor his passports Immediately.
Boston POST-To accede to the
request to warn American ships and
passengers) would~be to consent to the
ruin of American commerce and the
abandoning by American citizens OF
all rights on the high seas. The gra-
cious permitting of one American pas
senger liner conspicuously marked, to
enter the port of Falmouth on a GER
tain fixed day each week IS merely an
affront to our self rspect.
We believe this sudden change of
policy to be a monumental blunder on
Germanys part, needless and graf
uitious mistake suggesting state of
desperation that she ought not to be
willing to reveal to the world and to
her enemies.
"The fuse is near the diplomatic
magazine, and it is lighted. But that
some honorable way may yet be found
to put out the spark all thoughtful ana
patriotic Americans will, we think,
earnestly desire.
Worcester (Mass) TELEGRAM
1t is q declaration of war against the
United States, sent in the form OF an
insult which red-blooded Americans
cannot stand for Also, it is assurance
that Germany has almost reached its
limit of war endurance and takes this
reckless method of making one more
big bluff to stop the war before Ger
man militarism is crushed.
Denver POST-Germany is rush
ing to her doom. There is no plan IN
the universe that permits a nation 70
succeed by such methods as these ana
this final step of Germany, IN denance
of the United States permits PRESIDENT
Wilson TO have no other choice tnan
the severance of diplomatic relatlohs
altogether.
Hartford (Conn) COURANT-Ger-
MANY announces that she is going
TO increase the ferocity OF her marine
warfare and warns us to look OUT lHc
! Allies declare that they want no peace
without victory. That is the return ~
f,r from President Wilson's surprlS-
inc intrusion into European analrs'
Ens,and has the greatest navy OF the
world and ii is up to her 10 proleet
+ho .bins that Germany threatens 10
das+,oy What Wilson will do about IL
remains with Wilson. supJect' o.
course, to the advice of Col house Vi
Texas. ,,r,,pD The
Meriden Comm RECoRD-ihe
noctod has happened Germany mas
at last shown her hand ana IL reSea''
the reason for President wilson llan
tic efforts to stave off the lhe'i'"oie
The serious import of the uocu'i,en1
cannot be er-estimated. II II uoeS
not mean war. it signifies that the Gays
of miracles have not passed.
Manchester UNION n we nave
simnly taken the position or inslsleilce
on due and proper regard Tor .le
! ,;ahts of American citizens by ALL
THE BELLIGERENTS and on 'na'
vol, ue must stand though the
heavens fall. That we must be pre-
nared to protect those rights goes
without saying. Germany Will not Ileeo
| n he reminded that line or conduct
! cnecifed in correspondence from
Wa asbinetou last Spring was then ana
| thore set down as the certain precur :
Gov of severance of diplomatic re-
! ,ations between our government ana
hers, that line of conduct being treat
| al sole,y in relation to American
! rights. Any reply to the note received
| in Washington yesterday can say noun
INC more than a re-assertlon OF INA
nosition; and certainly it can be noun
| ing less. :,
| Portland PRESS America shoulo
annreciate the full solemnity or the
| situation created by the latest German
note. It is virtually a declaration OF
war against the United States. IL ao-
mits of no other construction.
It Germany has thrown all It's
nromises to the wind, it has renounced
| all restrictions with which civilization
has surrounded warfare and it has in
yited all the world to crush II, IL 1t
| can That is the situation this MORN
| ing. 1t is simply up to Germany to
! carry out its threats, or withdraw
them. Until it does the former, we
! cannot act. but once it has sunk one
| American ship engaged in the pursuits
| Of peace. or killed one American citi-
! zen entitled to the protection of this
nation under international law as hith-
erto understood by the civilized world.
we must act There can be no alter
native.
Boston HERALD-The German gov