El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-03-13

GERMANY nav be expected to make distinction be-
tween American armed ships ready to shoot at sight,
~ and those armed British merchantmen which have been
offered rewards for sinking submarines and which Germany
therefore considers waTshps In fact German view tne
first has been that vessels lose their peaceful character o
being armed President Wilson last year took the same
view In the German view then there VIII be usuation
for considering every armed American merchantmen enter
ing the barred varship from the mere 1act mat II
carries guns dOubly because carrles not
to await attack but to fire when submarine IS Sse0 nus
taking aggressive, instead Of defensive action -
The American view Is that for merchantmen 10 IIe ms
Is not an aggressive act but purely one OF defence
ington holds that the act Of aggression mas oen
nv GERMANY nv announcing that every ship may expect to
be sunk without further warning In the barred zones mus
the United States juses any act which merensn'hen may
commit to prevent being sunk
The result viii be that first time American ship
sights German submarine in the barred zones II *
sted to men fire and save itself from destruction TINS
obviosI involves the possibility of the submarine and us
crew being destroyed Whether Germany would choose 10
foIlov that act with declaration Of war remains TO De
go Tobab the declaration would be forthcoming How
ever much Germany ght prefer to keep the oneo
out Of the list Of actual bFerents such an ac OF
involving peril to the submarine fleet on WHICH
has saed greatest hopes of winning the war could naro
be disre0arded - -
these guns manned by navy gunners and supplied WIN
ammunition Soon American ships thus equipped VIII begin
Passing through the barred Sooner or later German
submarines viii encountered and the expected fgnt vi"
take Mace Then shah see what viii happen
Only chance Of avoiding sea conflicts Iemains-nO
saJlv chance but lust fantastic conception OF
that German submarines sighting American ships oeIore tny
are themselves SEEM will get under the water and remain
Sdeu
qee when matched I'd beside the repeated decraons
from Berlin that the U-boat viii be prosecuted TO the
utmost IN fun conformity with the declaration OF Fenruary
GERMANY as government and the Germans lndrvlouahy
sn enced the determination not TO give back one lncn
IN this unrestricted sea wal -, =. -
There is nothing to done but to await the clash, ap
DsrenfIv inevitable and to what II Will lead may
be an immediate declaration of If war comes may
he fought for while between Germany and the united
States in inst the that II seems to be staI1ng
that Is German submarines trying to sink ships and armed
shs irving TO destroy submarines whenever encountered
The LARGER units the United States navy would tnen
have no part unless they to convoy ships patron tne
a lanes and watch German raiders OF the Moee type
This is the big year of the 1t viii see the hardest
Fighting Ii VIII witness desperation both Sides the
ike of which has not heretofore brought INTO
evidence. -.
Both sides war orn short Of funds and credit IN greater
or less degree short food pale from loss Of blood bitter
with thoughts of the dead and the suffering, VIII Try to
force a victory this year.
The entente has given notice that the bic drive promised
each sprino going be attempted AGAIN Presentations
for II have been under all winter Month after month
he British guns have hsmmerne ceasas night and
dav At the German lines The British have been taking
few prisoners here gaining bit of ground there nlbbiing
t Their patrols at German front lines. dropping bombs
ron battIepanes on depos and factories II the rear and
Dounding pounding pounding with the artillery to wear
down the German morale by q systematic process Of
pestering.
The preat rush Britsn and France VIII be under
taken Germany viii oppose It with ounce Of blood