Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-02

10 answer question as to whether
any action mad been. taken.
A warning to Germany that a sew
GRANGE OF diplomatic relations will
follow the putting into effect Of such
campaign of ruthlesneSs as she has
announced, or an actual severance on
Germany's announcement as If
STANDS, seems probable. There is
no oft1c1al ground, however, for stat
ing that either of these courses has
oeen selected, although one is gen
orally expected. -.
1t is admitted that a course of ac-
ton has been decided upon. but -;t-1-sS
said certain steps must be taken he-
fore it is announced. -
PLEDGES BROKEN.
Germany's sudden declaration Of bA-
htloh without warning to DESTROY ALI
shipping over a wide area. coroaS 49, -
climax to a long series of axg-a1,.tns
cases In which the United States has
gathered evidence that her nled0az -
respect International law at sea baye
been broken. nave
score OF American lives have been
lo'I since the slate was wiped nv car
nanyS promises in the SUSSEX case
but IN each instance there were conf1ict-
lne InIIuences, and in each case came
repeated assurances from the German
permitted to disturb relations witL 80
United States.
After each of the new sinkinsz
informal assurances that Germanv 80
ready TO make amends if her Submarine
commanders had violated orders
An evidence of the efforts of the c.
ilidhh embassy mere to keep relations
tranquil is found in a comparison of a..
note handed yesterday to Secretary Ian
sing by Count Won Bernstorff with thu
one handed to Ambassador Gerard.
The note published in Berlin Announce
IN ooId terms the determination of Ger
many 10 WELD every weapon at her
command without quarter. while the NOT.
presented to the American state dem #
ment says the same thing in softened
language ''''t1
The German embassy has for months
been building up an atmosphere of hone
fulneSS and at one time it was sajd
mat Won Tlrpitz, who originated the
campaign of ruthlessness, actually had
been forced from his high position nv
influences brought to bear by the Car
man ambassador here in an effort "a
preserve good relations with the United
States. Now it is frankly disclosed that
not carry his campaign of ruthIessness
far enough, that he was unprepared with
an insufficient number of undersea shins
10 make this force effective, and was
punished for his short-sightedness.
Now, the officials who speak for Ger
many In this country, unhesitatinglv
announce the plan TO starve out England
with fleet of submarines which tbev
estimate between 300 and 500, and they
think they can cut off the food suppIv
of the British Isles completely within
sixty days.
RUMOR OF DISSENSION.
American officials are not convinced
that Germany's announcement of A
campaign of ruthlessness reveals the en-
tire situation. There have been intin,a-
tons of dissension between the entente
allies, all of which, however, have been
officially denied, and there are other
which have come into
possession of the American government
but are not being disclosed, which give
ground for the possibility that the new
submarine blockade may be only the
foreEunner of something else equally
startling. Neither is there any assur-
ances that the new warfare will be con-
fined to changes on the seas.
The air of confidence which was open
~ expressed at the German embassy was
interpreted as an indication
that the Berlin government was very
sure of the success of its plans.
The ruthless submarine warfare in
augurated today by Germany brings
the United States face to face with what
President Wilson has declared to be the
only alternative torecOgnition of Ameri-
can rights on the high seas-a break IN
diplomatic relations, with its accompany
ing possibilities.
Washington awoke- this morning with
A shiver to a realization of this situa-
ton brought about by the warming note
handed yesterday to Ambassador Gerard
at Berlin and delivered to the state de-
partment by Count Won Bernstorff.
The president has given no intimation
Of the trend of his thoughts since he
Continued on Page 2, Column SD