The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-02-08
A new CRISIS ARISES
GERMANY DECLARES CNRE-
STRICTED WARFARE.
Blockade Declared Against England
by Germany.-Win Sink All Ees-
sells Seeking to Enter Britain.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-Germany
has declared unrestricted submarine
warfare.
A starvation blockade of England,
the like of which the world never
has seen, was announced today in
notes delivered to American Ambas-
sador Gerard, in Berlin, and to the
State department here by Count Won
Bernstorff.
Thus begins the long feared cam
paign conceived by Won Hindenburg,
it is said here, on a magnitude never
even contemplated by Won Tirpitz.
Again the United States faces sew
erance of diplomatic relations with
Germany with all it's eventual posi-
bilities. President Wilson's repeated
warnings of "a world afre' and Sec
retary Lansing's Verge of war"
statement are being recalled in the
capital tonight with feelings of ap-
prehension and misgiving.
The Super Crisis.
Germany's action is the super
crisis of all those that have stirred
the American government in two and
a 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 taken to him,
at once called for the official docu-
ment, which had just been presented
to Secretary Lansing by the German
ambassador. Mr.. Lansing refused to
make a comment. President Wilson
began at once careful study of the
document.
The president has the task of de-
Gliding what shall be the course of the
United States. Three immediate
steps appear among the possibilities.
Another Solemn Warning.
The United States might solemnly
warn Germany against violation of
her pledges; it might be decided that
the German warning is sufficient no
tice of an intention to disregard
those pledges and sufficient war
rant for breaking off diplomatic re-
lations; it might be decided to await
the results of the blockade and de-
termine the course Of the United
States as the actual operations de-
velop.
On almost every side Germany's
drastic action is interpreted as an
open confession of the effectiveness
of the would-be blockade. 1t is re-
garded as a determination to strike
back in defense.
German officials in the United
States estimate the food supply on
the British Isles will last month.
Plan to Starve England.
Admittedly the plan is to carry
starvation to the doors of England
with swift, staggering strokes as
fulfllment 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 num-
Der of submarines to deliver blows to
bring England to her knees within
sixty days. One German official here
predicted today the war would be
over in month.
Conveyed to the world as her an
swer to the refusal of the entente al
lies to take peace, Germany's latest
warning says:
From February 1, 1917, within
barred zones around Great Britain,
France, Italy and in the Eastern
Mediterranean all sea traffic
forthwith will be opposed"
Renewal of Proclamation.
1t virtually is a. renewal and an
extension Of the celebrated subma-
rine blockade of the British Isles pro-
claimed February 4, 1915, and which
became effective February IS, 1915,
Under it ships were sunk without
warning until Germany abandoned
the practice and gave her assurances,
in the Sussex case, to abide by inter-
national law. The Lusitania, Fala-
ba and scores of other ships were
sunk under the decree.
American citizens and American
ships are warned from entering the
war zones, although certain precau-
tionary measures are suggested for
distinguishing American steamers
not carrying contraband according
to the German list. These condl-
tions in almost the same form were
roioctod whom nronosed by Germany