The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-02-15

SHIPS WHICH, WIFI AuerlCduS ou DOdI u
were sunk: The Englishman, the Man
| chester Guardian, the Eagle Point anC
the Berwindale, all sunk within com
paratively short time. The German
| government replied on April IL, saying
either that it did not have sufficient
information to form an opinion, or that
it was doubtful if the sinking was
traceable to a submarine, or that the
ship attempted to escape.
UItimatum From United States.
Within week this government re-
piled that the Sussex was uorpedoed,
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: "Unless 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 can have
no choice but to sever diplomatic rela-
lions with the German empire alto
gether." The next day the president
addressed the congress to the same
effect.
On May Germany replied that she
was alive to the possibility that the
Sussex was torpedoed, admitting In
effect that she was caught in having
made false statement. Her COM
manders, she asserted, had orders to
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 it did to the victims of
submarine warfare. However, she was
willing to go the limit: SIN accordance
with the principles of law German SUBJ
marines will exercise visit and search
before sinking merchant vessels recog-
nized by law if 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-
Tents address to the senate, Germany
regret that the attitude of
he allies, their lust for conquest,
made peace impossible. This, she pro-
'laimed, created a new situation, to
which reference was made in a for
That decision was nothing less than
o violate all her solemn pledges, to
xtend the submarine zone to Great
britain, France and Italy, and to sink
III ships. She was confident that this
elton would lead to a speedy termi-
alton of the war and would be under
TODD by the United States. AS a
avor to this country she would per-
lit 1t to send one steamer a week each
yay to a particular port, Falmouth.
he fixed the day for arrival, Sunday,
nd the day for departure, Wednesday. {
he ship must be striped with three
-ripes, each a meter wide, white and
ed alternating, and q guaranty must +
e given that it carry no contraband. :
The president promptly executed his
arning to Germany, severing diplo-
attic relations with the German en-
Enh I'm, aalsn toll ~
resident laid the matter before con-
'eSs and informed it of his action.
merican ships, however, remained in
'rt as they arrived, as did those of
her neutrals, and Germany was
'hieving her ends by menace. On the
me day the Housatonic, an Ameri-
n steamer, was sunk, and on Febru-
y ID the Lyman M. Law. 1t was OBJ
Gus that a further step must be
ken or this country would be i'm
tent and would be playing into the
nds of the Prussian autocrats.
lerefore, ON February 26 the presi-
mt asked congress for authority to
m merchant vessels, and even then
id that war, if it came, could come
ly by the act of Germany.
226 Americans Killed.
In the period from February &c to
'ril 2, six American ships were sunk
tn loss of many lives. Ships of
Ter neutrals were destroyed and
nericans were murdered. In this
lole period, 226 American citizens,
my of them women and children,
re killed. Armed neutrality OBJ
usly was ineffective. The country
S experiencing all the disadvantages
war without any of the rights or
ectiveness of a belligerent. Only
? alternative was left.
IN April 2 the president appeared
ore congress and recommended that
tate of war be declared against the
rman government. The congress
epted the recommendation by vote
3I3 to 30 in the house of repre-
tatives and 50 to 6 in the senate.
we had not accepted the chal-
ge~of the war-mad, desperate, die
orial contemptuous, hypocritical,
medieval Prussian militaristS, we
aid have had to admit that we were
free nation, that we preferred
ce at any price. and were inter-
al only ir, f.,o Hoeln-Note rrl,;e on,,r,