Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-02-09
u. S. BREAKS ~
WITH GERMANY
Diplomatic Relations Severed
War in Near Future Imminent
First Overt Act ON Part of Teutons Is
Likely to Bring This Country into
Great Conflict.

Likely to Bring This Country into
Great Conflict.
AT last has come the long predicted
break with Germany. The determine
ton of that country, formally an
nounccd week ago, to begin Il ruth
less campaign of submarine warfare
against the ships of all nations, found
within prescribed distance of twenty
miles entirely encircling the enemies
countries, has brought matters to a
grave crisis. This fierce mandate from
| Germany is aimed at neutrals as well
as the allies. None are spared and the
slight concessions in favor of Ameri-
can ships are in themselves a gross af.
front to American honor and self-re-
spect.
AS Germany deliberately arraigned
herself against all mankind when she
causelessly began the war of conquest,
and entered upon course of vandalism
and ruin, so she now adopts the one
last resort open to her as the open enc
my of the world by frankly accepting
that frightful role and unreservedly
declaring her intention of pursuing n
war of destruction with all the resources
at her command, chief of which is
the submarine. This purpose is Il fla
grant and shocking disregard and vio-
lation Of all her pledges made to the
United States government but a few
months ago, and it left this country but
one thing to do in defence of its out
ragged honor and dignity.
/ After full and free consultation with
prominent members of congress, Pres-
dent Wilson prepared an address to
both houses and the supreme court, and
- l.. /
them jointly in a meeting that will
constitute an epochal event in our coun-
try's history. Clearly, strongly, dis
passionately, he set forth the causes
and circumstances which had led up to
the present situation, and had induced
the government to take the final and
decisive action. 1t was a fine and con-
vincing statement, simple and digni-
fed, utterly free from temper and re-
elimination. 1t met with the most alb
solute approval on all sides. There
were no Democrats and no Republicans
in that august assembly. All were
, Americans, animated solely by a pur-
pose to sustain their President in his
faithful duty of upholding the Ameri-
can name and the American honor.
: Personal and party differences now
, sink to nothingness.
The President s final words were i'm
pressive and solemn, and will find sin
ccre echo in every patriotic heart:
eve do not desire any hostile con
flict with the Imperial German govern
ment. We are the sincere friends of
the German people, and earnestly de-
sire to remain at peace with the gov
eminent which speaks for them.
We shall not believe that they are
hostile to us unless and until we are
obliged to believe it; and we purpose
nothing more than the reasonable de-
Tense of the undoubted rights of our
people. We wish to serve no selfish
ends.
I'VE wish merely to stand true alike
in thought and in action TO the i'm
memorial principles Of our people
which ] have sought to express in my
address to the senate two weeks ago
seek merely to vindicate our right to
liberty and justice and unmolested life.
These are the bases of peace, not war.
God grant that we may not be chal-
lengcd to defend them by acts of will
full injustice on the part of the govern
mcnt Of Germany.
This address and the action of the
government in breaking off diplomatic
relations with Germany, as formally
signfed by handing Ambassador Bern
lassador Gerard from Germany, meets
with the most enthusiastic approval all
over the country. The newspapers are
as united in endorsing the President s
action as congressman were. The gen.
eral feeling is that the parting of the
ways has been reached and that the
President must be supported, hut that
extreme measures are justified only as
an inevitable and deplorable necessity,
because there is no other alternative.
Several measures calling for immense
appropriations for a state of naval and
military preparedness have been intro
duccd in congress. One by Senator
Thomas calls for an appropriation of
100000, 900
Nearly all of the neutral nations Of
Europe and South America have pro-
= tested against Germany S ruthless sub
marine warfare, but none of them have
broken diplomatic relations.
Forts, bridges, munitions and power
plants throughout the United States
= have been placed under special guards
? this week.
One of the surprising developments
of the past few days has been the dis
covery that the machinery of the val
5 liable interned German ships at New
York, Boston, Manila, Honolulu and
other places has been crippled so that
the vessels are useless, and cannot be
put into condition for use without
, months of work and en- expenditure of
millions of dollars
I, The startling report comes from Ber-
, lin that Ambassador Gerard and all the
9 other Americans in Germany are being
: held ms hostages until the safe trans
rortation of Count Won Bernstorff to
the fatherland is assured