New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-02-08

pLlSU LluL Lue SuSSex WIS tOEpeUOeU,
that this was not an isolated case, that
1t was clear Germany had made indis-
criminate destruction a deliberate pol
icy, contrary to assurances given again
and again, that the United States had
been willing to wait till the course Of
Germany was susceptible Of only one
Interpretation and that that time had
been reached. 1t added: sunless the
imperial German government should
now Immediately declare and effect an
abandonment Of It's recent methods Of
submarine warfare against passenger
and freight carrying vessels the gov
eminent Of the United States car have
no choice but to sever diplomatic rela-
tiOns with the German empire alto
gether." The next day the president
addressed the congress to the same
effect.
On May 4 Germany replied that she
was alive to the possibility that the
Sussex was %torpedoed, admitting in
effect that she was caught in having
made a false statement. Her COM
hAoAuCAcS cuC dSoCA tCus udu OLuclb "
conduct warfare In accordance with
visit and search except In the case Of
enemy trade ships navigating in the
war zone. As to these she gave no as
surance, and claimed that she had
never given any. She regretted that
the United States did not extend the
same sympathy to the German civilian
population that 1t did to the victims Of
submarine warfare. However, she was
willing to 60 the limit I'm accordance
with the principles Of law German sub
marines will exercise visit and search
before sinking merchant vessels recog-
nized by law II they do not attempt to
escape or resist"
This was promise number four.
Violates Solemn Pledges.
On January 81, on the pretext Of
acknowledging receipt Of the presi-
dents address to the senate, Germany
expressed regret that the attitude of
the allies, their lust for conquest,
made peace impossible. This, she pro-
claimed, created a new situation, to
which reference was made in q for.
mer note, and called for a decision.
That decision was nothing less than
to violate all her solemn pledges, to
extend the submarine zone to Great
Britain, France and Italy, and to sink
all ships. She was confident that this
action would lead to a speedy termi-
nation Of the war and would be under.
stood by the United States. As a
favor to this country she would per-
NIT 1t to send one steamer a week each
way to a particular port, Falmouth.
She fixed the day for arrival, Sunday,
and the day for departure, Wednesday.
The ship must be striped with three
stripes, each a meter wide, white and
red alternating, and a guaranty must
be given that 1t carry nc %contraband.
The president promptly executed his
warning to Germany, severing diplo-
matte relations with the German en-
pire on February 3. Immediately the
president laid the matter before con-
gress and informed 1t of his action.
American ships, however, remained In
port as they arrived, as did those Of
other n%eutrals, and Germany was
achieving her ends by enace On the
same day the Housatonic, an Ameri-
a steamer, was sunk, and on Febru-
airy 13 the Lyman M. Law. 1t was OBJ
viOus that a further step must be
taken or this country would be i'm
potent and would be playing into the
hands Of the Prussian autocrats.
Therefore, on February 20 the presi-
dent asked congress for authority to
arm merchant vessels, and even then
said that war, If 1t came. could come
only by the act Of Germany.
226 Americans Killed.
In the period from February 20 to
April 2, six American ships were sunk
with loss Of many lives. Ships Of
other neutrals were destroyed and
Americans were murdered. In this
whole period, 228 American citizens,
many Of them ONE and children,
were killed. Armed neutrality OBJ
viOusly was ineffective. The country
was experiencing all the disadvantages
Of war without any of the rights or
effectiveness of a belligerent. Only
one alternative was left.
On April 2 the president appeared
before congress and recommended that
a state of war be declared against the
German government. The congress
accepted the recommendation by a vote
Of 1913 to 80 in the house of repre-
sentatives and 50 to 6 in the senate.
If we had not accepted the chal-
lenge Of the war-mad, desperate, die
tatOrial, contemptuOus, hypocritical,
and medieval Prussian militarists, we
would have had to admit that we were
not a free nation. that we preferred
peace at any price. and were inter-
ested only in the fieshpots. This coun-
try either had to swallow it's own
words, abdicate its position as a free
sovereign power, cOncede that It had
no rights except those which Germany
accorded 1t, hold its citizens and ships
away from Europe, or to recognize the
plain fact that Germany was acting
In a hostile manner against 1t, fight
to defend its rights, fight for humanity
and the cause of civilization and free
peoples everywhere. Joining its power
with the other free nations Of tia
world to put an end to autocratic anu
brute force. There was one choice we
could not make-we we're incapable At
making. We could not choose the
path of submission and suffer the most