AMERICA'S ATTITUDE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 12 September 1914, Page 3

AMERICA'S ATTITUDE

SYMPATHY WITH THE ALLIES EXCITEMENT IN SHIPPING CIRCLES. ■ (FROM OOP. OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ! SAN FRANCJSO. 18th August. Officially, of course, the attitude of the United _ States toward the conflagration raging in fciurope is and must be one of strict flnd undeviating neutrality: but it is impossible to avoid the conviction that amongst the great body of the American people sympathy lies on the side of France, England, and Russia, and and their smaller allies, as. against the German-Austrian combination. The fact that a nation speaking the same* language ad Americans is at war. the traditional national friendship . for France, dating from the day of the war for independence, the arrogant disregard of Germany for treaty rights, are contributing factors to this result. This antiGerman feeling cannot, however, be gathered from the reading of the newspapers. The press of America is commenting on the war in very carefullychosen language, being fearful of offending any large foreign element in the population. There is probably not a big paper that has not received complaints of the " unfairness " of its news accounts of the war from natives of one or other of the countries involved. But, nevertheless, the sympathy of the majority of the American people with the anti-German allies is plainly apparent in multitudes of daily casual conversations. Here, on the Pacific Coasfc, there is no doubt this is so. A letter from Bo&ton indicates the trend of sympathy in the Eastern States. The writer says : "On all sides is expressed disapproval of Germany and ' the hope that Germany will be put in her place, that place being where she can no longeract as the swaggerer among nations and the inciter to strife. Even in the streets the anti-German feeling is expressed." Neutrality, proclaimed by the President of the United States, *" is being rigidly enforced. Warships of both Germany and England have entered the harbour of San Francisco, but have been compelled /to leave in twenty-four hours, after securing sufficient coal to carry them to the next national port. With little hope that her good offices will at this time be availed of, the United States lias placed herself on record as being prepared to welcome an opportunity to act in the interests of peace. The President has sent a message to this effect to the European rulers of countries signatory to the Hague Convention. When the offer was made, however, it was realised that the situation had. gone too far , to be halted by mediation. Nevertheless, the offer stands and when some of the combatants are exhausted by war they may be glad to accept mediation by the -United 'States: '"/' ' There is only one possibility by which America could be dragged into the European war, in the opinion of leading statesmen, and that is but a remote possibility. Should Germany take it into her head to invade Canada it is the consensusof opinion that under the Monroe Doctrine the United States must step in and go to the support of Canada. The purport and intention of the Monroe policy is to absolutely inhibit European interference anywhere in North or South America, and it would apply even in the case of Canada, the colony of a European Power. But it is scarcely likely that Germany will attempt to further arouse American antagonism by landing her troops on this continent. WILL IT BENEFIT OR INJURE? One of the remarkable features of the American _ attitude toward the war is the inability ot the average citizen to make up his mind whether commercially it is going to benefit or injure the United States. It is possible that the interruption of industrial processes in Europe will cause ai great demand for American products. The wealthy manufacturers of this country will reap a consequent advantage, but the common people feel it only by an increase in local retail prices. Then, again, the cotton crop .cannot move through the ordinary channels owing to the closing of British factories. A rapid increase in the price of foodstuffs throughout the United States has already taken place. The advance in sugar has been the biggest in history. President Wilson considers the raising of the price of food products altogether unjustifiable, for which' the war in Euiope is. but a pretext. In a letter to the Attorney-General he asks to be advised if there is not some law under which action caji be taken to prevent the unwarrantable acts of market manipulators. I feel that this is a matter which we cannot let pass without trying to serve the country," added the President. "Certainly the country ought to be defended, if possible, against men who would take advantage of such circumstances to increase the price of food and the difficulties of living." In addition, the District Attorney of New York has started an investigation into an alleged conspiracy to increase the price of food in that city, and the Mayor has appointed a committee of fifty to look into tho situation. TRANSPACIFIC SHIPPING. There are a couple of German warships hovering off the western coast of America, the Lpjpzig and the Nurnberg; but despite. tiTTs fact, and the further fact that marine insurance is difficult to get, the shipping service from San Francisco and Vancouver to New Zealand and Australia is not likely to be seriously interfered with. Mr. Reginald Back, manager here of the Union Steam Ship Company, says his boats will continue to cross the Pacific on schedule, carrying freight, mail, and passengers. The Canadian-Australian liner Niagara, delayed; at Vancouver for a week by the Canadian Government and by insurance, left with instructions to speed up to avoid the German cruisers. After leaving Honolulu she expected to be convoyed to the South Seas by British cruisers. The manoeuvring of British and German cruisers up and down the Pacific Coast has been followed by the people I of San Francisco with intense interest, and there hayt been constant rumours of a naval engagement in these seas. A week ago the warships of .both nations were reported to be outside the Golden aud thousands of people thronged the beach and heights all day in the expectation of seeing a sea, battle. When the British cruiser Rainbow came into the harbour for coal and left again stealthily in the dead of night, many thought two German, boats were awaiting her outside the Golden Gat*, but the Britisher got away safely, and later rejoined other English vessels m British Columbia, waters. By only a, few hours the Rainbow, missed a rich German

prize. Two hours after she anchored in San Francisco Bay the German steamer Alexandria, laden with a million-dollar cargo ol European merchandise, arrived in the harbour from Hamburg and West Coast ports. Had they encountered three miles off shore, the German vessel would have been subject to capture. Another Gernun treasure ship that dodged the enemy was the Kronprinzessin Cecilie, which sailed train New York just before the declaration of war by the KaLser, carrying £2,00Q,000 in gold, and whose whereabouts was a mystery tor almost a week. Worth £1,0U0,00U in herself, the Cecilie constituted probably the finest &ej. prize, ever open to capture. With eveiy poi thole blanketed so that :iot a gleam of light escaped, and with her four stacks painted black 'to that she resembled an Jinglisb steamship, the Kronprinzessin Cecilie steamed back at hill speed and put in at Bar Harboui, Maine. The passengers were intensely indignant at the risks they insisted the captain tuok in rushing ahead «iT full speed in the dark without sounding a, ioghom, and a written, demand was made that he reduce the speed. Captain Pollack said his motive was to save the ship from capture, and he declined to slow down. A group of financiers aboard offered to buy the ship and sail her under American colours, but the captain lefuscd to do anything but follow his ordeis from Biemen, which were to turn back and save his ship. CANADA AND THE WAR. Canada is mobilising 22,000 men ready to go to the seat of war if desired by Great Britain. When the Government called for volunteers there was an immediate response, and within a week the men were picked. In response to the offer of the Government, King George cabled a notification that he would be pleased to accept a full division of 22,000 men to fight with the British , troops. Only men who were physically sound and between the ages of 18 and 45 were accepted. ' The period of enlistment is during the continuance of the present . war, and preference was given to those who have had military experience, or have been trained in marksmanship, j Many Servians in the United States, who find it impossible to get back to their own country to fight the Austrians, have written to the Canadian Government offering to go to Canada and enlist for service in Europe under the British flag. Many reservists from • the French and Russian ' armies have made similar offers. The matter is being considered by the Canadian Government. At Windsor, Ontario, more than 1000 Austrians are employed; they are being kept under close surveillance, and the leaders of the colony have been officially warned that any of their countrymen suspected of assisting Germany or conspiring against Great Britain will be arrested.