The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1917. UNITED STATES AT WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 5 February 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1917. UNITED STATES AT WAR.

(With which is incorporated The Taihape Post and Waimarino News).

Without "actually sheathing her sword and holding up her hands Germany has now contributed the most convincing admission of .her defeat. Bickerings with the United States are definitely at an end; Count Bernstorff has received his dismissal and America's Ambassador has received orders to leave Beriin and return home, it is the last act of German desperation. This complete rupture of diplomatic relations must have" an influence on other neutrals which certainly cannot operate to Germany's advantage, and

has opened up possibilities of anxious interest which Allied peoples will

await with extreme concern. Friendly relations have been severed, and although war has not yet been declared, it is impossible for Germany to pursue her campaign of submarining without coming into armed conflict with United States warships. The American Government, like the B'ritish Government, left no effort unexerted that would stem the tide of war. It was only when Britain realised that the existence of the British Empire was endangered her sword was unsheathed, and it was only when America saw that to endure the insults of Germany would sully her flag for ever that she determined to take a stand against the militarism of mad Hohenzollerns. The die is now cast, and it is only a matter, probably, of days, when we shall learn that American destroyers no longer lay calmly alongside to witness the destruction of an ocean liner, waiting to pick up and rescue drowning passengers and sailers. It is by no means obvious what action, if any, America will take in Europe, but she must, at least, take a strong part in keeping ocean highways clear of pirates, allowing the free transit of passengers and commodities to and from neutral countries. In this she will have the assistance of most other neutrals, all of whom will probably arm with the same object in view; but developments will come so quickly as to render conjecture about what is going to happen quite unnecessary. Germany has invited the United States to take sides against her; what her ultimate object is time only will explain. The war party in Germany feared trouble with America from the commencement, and has expended many millions of money in working up the German elements to a state of rebellion, but have so far failed. A year ago Reventlow blatantly published to the world what was be-

ing done in America. He said: "The people read German newspapers, have business relations with the old country, exchange letters with their relations at home, are acquainted wltn Germany and feel themselves to be Germans. Therefore, the broad masses of the people, the younger GermanAmericans and the Irish, together with the opposition to a Government controlled by the capitalists and antiGerman sentiments, is to be round a warm sympathy tor imperilled Germany." He boasted that the propertiless classes would openly become the opponents or President Wilson, and we

snail now shortly learn or how correctly Keventlow and the ioi ds of Prussian militarism had gauged the spirit ,of the American people; whether it is anything to which Germany may attach importance in the crisis that has arisen. Whatever organfsation may have effected in the United States in aid of an imperilled Germany, it will be found that the innate dislike in mankind to be governed or dictated to by an alien will prove an immeasurably more potent factor in saving America from German intrigue and lust for power. The Monroe Doctrine has been flouted, and submarine warfare has been carried right up to the shores of the American Continent, and Germany has formally notified the Presldent of the United States that American ships and American lives will be no more respected than those of any other country, or otherwise. One of two courses had J:o he taken, either Germany was to recant or the United States had to enforce by arms respect for the Monroe principles. These principles have been challenged by Gemany, and the United States has determined to show to tne world that they are to become no dead letter. From to-day the war takes on

a new phase; America lias entered the lists against Hun frigatfulness, and it is most probable that other neutrals will follow her lead. The possibilities this new phase opens up are great, many and pregnant with sensations of an extreme character. With Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland following America's lead,, the German war lords will have stirred up a veritable hornets' nest that must materially assist in hastening the end. There are financial, as well-as other indications, that peace is near at hand.