The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-02-01


opened to other travellers.
Washington, January 31--Germany
has declared unrestricted submarine
warfare.
A starvation blockade of England,
the like of which the world never has
seen, was announced to the world to-
day in notes delivered to American
Ambassador Gerard in Berlin and to
the State Department here by Count
Won Bernstorff.
Similar notes, advices from Berlin
state, have been handed to representa-
tives of all neutral governments.
Thus begins the long feared cam
paign of ruthlessness, conceived by
Won Hindenburg It Is said here, Oh a
magnitude never even contemplated
by Won Tirpltz.
Again the United States faces sew
erence of diplomatic relations with
Germany with all its eventual posi-
bilities.
President Wilson's repeated warn
ings Of world afire" and Secretary
Lansing's Verge of war" statement
are being recalled in the capital to-
night with feelings of apprehension
and misgivlng.
Action Is Super.CrIsls
Germany's action Is the supercrisls
of all those that have stirred the
American government In two and one
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 brought him, at
once called for the official document
which had just been presented to Sec
retary Lansing by the German am
bassador.
Mr.. Lansing absolutely refused to
make comment.
President Wilson began at once a
careful study Of the document. The
President has the task of deciding
what shall be the course of the United
States. fW
Three immediate steps appear
among the possibilities:
The United States might solemnly
warn Germany against a violation of
her pledges,
1t might be decided that the Ger
man warning is sufficient notice of an
intention to disregard those pledges
and a sufficient warrant for breaking
off diplomatic relations.
1t might be decided to await the re-
suit Of the blockade and determine the
course of the United States as the ac-
tual operations develop.
Interpreted As Confession
On almost every side Germany's
drastic action Is Interpreted at an
open confession of the effectiveness
Of the British food blockade. It ID re-
garded as a determination to strike
back In kind,
German officials in the United
States estimate the food supply on the
British Isles will last a month.
Admittedly, the plan is to carry
starvation to the doors of England
with swift, staggering strokes, as q
fulfillment 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 &C
days.
One German official here predicted
today the war would be over In O
month.
Conveyed to the world as her an.
swer to the refusal of the Eententt
ALLIES to talk peace, Germany's latest
warning said:
From February l. 1917, within bar,
red zones around Great Britain
France. Italy and In the EASTERN Medl
terranean all sea traffic forthwith will
be opposed"
II virtually is renewal and an en-
tension OF the celebrated submarin,
.I||