The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-15
United States Shows Latest
Campaign Of Kaiser for
Obtaining Power.
WOULD STOP FOOD TO
NORTHERN COUNTRIES
Trying to Weaken Neighbors
to Reduce Competition !.
After War.

Washington, March fk-0errhany's
latest campaign Of ruthlessnesa against
neutral shipping In attributed BY the
war trade board In 4 statement tonight
to deliberate plan for cutting of tho
north European nations from Alueri-
can and allied food supplies and
thereby reducing them through starva-
tion TO political and economic depend-
ence upon the Teutonic war lords
Tho boards statement throws inter-
estlng light upon the situation. which
led TO this decision. the hope II ex-
pressed that the neutrals will contrast
the respective attitudes Of the United
states and Germany toward the pr0b-
lem OF feeding them.
Following IL the statement:
Plan Starvation.
'Germany's war leaders are using
the submarine war weapons TO preveae
fulflllment of American Mgreamentus M
mass OF cumulative evidence and indi-
cations in the p0sseHuiOn OF the war
trade board show that Germany Ii eni-
ploying the submarine menace 70 pro-
vent neghbor neutritls receiving amy
food or favors at the hands Of tho
United States and Its associates In tho
war and to coerce these neutrals
through starvation into political and
economic dependence upon Germany
quite as much NJ to strike at the COM.
munications OF It's opponents---IseH-
inany's ostensiblc aim In prOclaiming
the ruthless submarine campaign.
Further Indications tend to show
that the submarines Are being used
along similar dog In the manger'
lines to destroy neutral shipping with
out regard 10 its employment In order
to weaken prospective neutral c1tn-
petitors after the war and to drag
down neutral tonnage as far a. possi-
BILE toward position OF equality tor
inferiority) with the German mercan-
tile marine, which haa lost between ~
and SO per cent Of It's ocean tonnage,
so that the neutral trader may he
equally as badly off as his German
rival for tonnage In the after the war
race for commerce.
Torpedo Neutral Ship.
mo other Interpretation can he
placed. for example upon the repeat-
ed instances OF destruction Of neutral
| Danish ships OH voyages between Ice
land and the Danish mother country
entirely outside Of the war zone. nor
upon the multltudiHous mistakes
whereby Dutch and other neutral ships
clinging to the prccarious narrow way
left open through the prohibited zone
are torpedoed outside the zone by u
boat commanders. whose word that thu
/ vessels we're within the zone is later
accepted unuuestioned by the German
prize courts. Prominent ship OWnerA
! In Scandinavian countries have stated
! their belief that many sinkings were
inspired only by the intention to get rid
OF neutral tonnage, 30 AZ to increase
the relative value OF German shipping
available at the end OF the war. Ex-
arninations Of the captains OF tOrpe-
doed ships before the marine courts IN
these countries bear out this belief. ths
testimony repeatedly showing that tbs
vessels were attacked far outside ths
zone.
Threaten seardinavia.
"Thc present campaign OF threats
aud intimidation against the Scandin.
avian neutrals now carried on In tht
semi official North German Gazette
and other organs Of the German pres
lis obviously intended to frgihten Ii,
northern neutrais from completing
agreements which benefit the neutral'
quite as much us tho United States
and its associates.
"Now succexs Of the earnest effort
of tho United Etates government 4
rush shipments OF bread grain b
Switzerland is threatened by the &C
ton of German submarines. which. &C
cording to now fully confirmed report
from Switzerland. have made start o
a new policy OF ruthlessness by sinllu
the neutral Spanish steamer Sssdl
nero. secured with great difficulty /
carry food to that country. Tho tor
i, pedolng OF the Sardinero, carrytn
nearly 1000 tons OF cereals for Switz
erland. can by no stretch Of the imASi
nation be brought within the scope /
!, iGermany's proclaimed submarines 70
icy. since tho vessel was ensnnod III
in an enemy, but in . suppoay ~
! trade for . neutral state, was u pnnl
! to port to which GeruAny hlo q
Q plicitly promised to leave opon Is -
passaga and WAS torpsdoed oQest1o q
'prohibitod scne." -