The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-19
Advocated War of Notes on
United States.


II was indispensable from the first to
carry on an offensive against America
by means of notes on account of her
unneutral attitude. Complaint after
complaint should have been lodged
against the supplying Of arms and am
munition to our enemies, the use OF
the wireless to the disadvantage of
Germany, the tacit recognition of Eng
lands blockade contrary to Internal
tional law, the treatment OF our cruisers
on foreign service and the unneutral
handling Of the postal service, such a
policy toward America would have kept
her busy and would not have been
dangerous because we would not have
TO send an ultimatum even at the con-
clusion OF our sharp. protests, True, we
probably could not have prevented the
making Of a common Anglo American
cause as the war progressed, but it
would have been a policy fraukht with
less danger than the one we pursued.
We could have given q clear cue,
which they could have followed In con-
cert, to all elements in the United
Germans, Irish, Quakers and those in
terested in the cotton trade, We never
set out the right way to work with
the Americans, The actual transforma-
ton Of America into an arsenal for our
enemies was an unheard OF breach Of
neutrality; In 1915 Germany should
savored OF blackmail. How often have
I presented TO the chancellor the char
acter of Wilson's policy and urgently
advised that we max UP our minds
to recognize and face it. BY giving up
one just position after another all we
achieved was that Wilson went further
his demands and threatening tao
tics.
America never really made us a tam
gible concession, II was not necessary,
so gillible was the German public.
The first great dramatic incident of
the submarine warfare came on May
Z lelb-the sinking OF the Lusitania, q
British passenger steamship, which at
the same time was entered In the Brit
ish navy register as an auxiliary cruiser.
With criminal recklessness and de-
| spite warnings from our accredited
ambassador, Americans embarked on
this armed cruiser already heavily la
den with ammunition,
They lost their lives when she sunk,
The commander OF the u-boat which
| torpedoed her recognized the L~usitanta
| only as she lay on her side sinking.
| As he attacked from the front he did
not at first recognize the number OF
masts and tunnels,
After the torpedo struck, there was
q second explosion inside caused by the
mass Of ammunition on board. This was
| the sole cause OF the immediate sink
ing OF the Lusitania and the great loss
OF human life, | received the news In
Berlin and immediately telegraphed TO
headquarters, May 3, that It was now
a pressing state necessity to maintain
the legality OF our position more than
firmness. While deploring the loss OF
life, we should have stood by our rights,
thus raising our prestige In America
and thereby most surely averting the
| danger OF war.
The German climb down, possibly
prompted by the Pope's telegram,
caused German diplomacy to be held
In very low esteem by Americans.
In the fourth installment Of his me-
moirs, Won rlrpit2 tells how he advo.
| Gated ordering commanders of German
vessels interned IN United States to
make for opel sea, stating that this
| plan was turned down because of the
belief that the commanders would be
| hanged II they made such an attempt,
! He declares these ships later nlayed an
important part in Germany's defeat by
transporting American troops. He de-
scrtbes the incident OF the Zimmerman
note TO Mexico, deploring the diplomacy
which created such a situation,
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.1s. r.