The sun., 1918-12-11
AMERICAN HALTS
CLASH IN DALMATIA
Prevents Armed Conflict at
Cattar0 After Italians
Land Troops.
LATTER ACTS AS MASTER
Demand National Flag BE
Lowered-GeddeS Doubts
This Is Last War.
LATTER ACTS AS MASTER

LONDON, Dec. 10.--The Manchester
GEardian says II has received from a
well informed allied source the state
ment tat another very serious incl
dent has been provoked by the forward
action Of Italy on the Adriatic coast"
The newspapers informant continues:
Ten days ago. though perfect quiet
reigned in that district and Serbian
contlngents from Gen. Franchet d'Es-
perey's army already were in occupa-
ton OF CcttinJe, the Italians insisted
on landing 1000 troops at Cattaro. in
Dslmatia. Happily to counterbaance
this the Allies secured the presence Of
an equa, number Of troops, including
Fren Ia and American soldiers.
American Commander Intervencs.
THE Italians. however. showed signs
Of behaving as masters and proceeded
to demand the lowering of the national
flag. An armed conflict was avoided
owing TO the active intervention Of the
hags and emblems remain in position"
In concluding peace the Allies must
not make the same mistake that Ger
many made In connection with AL
Lorraine in 1871 Premier Lloyd
George said In the course Of the ad-
dress he made to the meeting of
women in Albert Hall yesterday. The
peace must he Just, he declared, be
cause Justice breeds justice and COM
mands acceptance, while vengeance
stirs up wrath and breeds vengeance"
The Premier contended that the
peace must be a stern one, however,
because 1t must have the sternness
Of Justice as we'll as the equity OF
Justice"
The Premier reafflrmed his declara-
ton that the Germans In the United
Kingdom should be expelled from II
because they had abused its hospi-
tally md should not get another
chance.
One OF the gravest problems at the
peace conference win be based on
what 10 meant by freedom Of the
seas" and what concessions Great
Britain is going TO make in that dl-
rection, SAID Sir Frederick E. Smith,
Attorney General. in speech at
Liverpool yesterday. He added that
he was engaged in preparing a memo
randum for the War Cabinet.
America has rendered brilliant SER
vice in the cause OF civilization" Sir
Frederick said. land Great Britain is
bound to approach the conference with
n determination to concede everything
possible TO American sentiment and
American views. having rega I'd for ma =
tional security and existence OF the
empire.
No Freer Than Land in War.
Americans must remember that the
seas are freer TO every one in peace
time and that TO none has that free
dom been denied. In war time. how
ever, one might as well talk OF the
freedom OF the land as the freedom Of
the seas. Imagine Belgium, northern
France or Serbia talking about free
dom OF the land.
The moment war arises great coer-
Give and primeval forces assert them
selves and the region OF law is aban-
military forces. Belligerents during
the war had n right TO carry on war.
Ncutrals had right to carry on trade.
But II there was n collision between the
right of belligerents TO put restraint
upon the enemy and the right OF neu-
trails to carry on trade the subordinate
right OF the neutrals had 70 give way
to the impcrious primary right OF the
bel!igerent
1T has been recognized for more
than three centuries that nation
which Is supreme is as much entitled
TO impose its will maritimely on in
ferior enemies by blockade as a ma
ton stronger on land IL able to i'm
pose It's will militarily on a weaker
nation.
Il am not sure that Great Britain
will not have to say TO the Allies
AZ the pease conference. We shall
he quite satisfied with such n defiui-
ton OF freedom OF the sens as will
enable the British navy in tho I'M
fortunate event OF future wars to Dc
exactly what the British navy, aidet
by the American navy has been do
ing FOR the last eighteen months"