AMERICAN SHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16468, 19 February 1917, Page 6

AMERICAN SHIPS.

Few expect Mr. Wilson to declare ' war against Germany, for he has a fertility of resource in international matters which accomplishes wonders when his opponents are willing to assist him. Germany is undoubtedly willing to assist Mr. Wil-, son to keep the peace as long as nho is not expected to go out of her own way in doing so. • Where both ' Mr. Wilson and Germany are at' fault is in their relations to the j

unsophisticated public. American | seamen, at the birth of the republic, J: inherited fr6m British ancestors a disinclination to suffer from piracy without fighting, and have not forgotten a good tradition. Small j neutrals may fear to arm their ships ; and pay piratical submarines in; their own coin, but the Americans j cannot be thus humble when they see the comparative immunity of the armed merchantman. Even Mr. Wilson cannot resist a public opinion which simply claims the right of J good American ships to strike back , at any pirate which strikes at them. | The Washington Government has 1 therefore been compelled to consider | the arming of American merchantmen, and is likely to find an insuperable difficulty in avoiding a surrender to public opinion. American ! warships looked on while German , submarines sank British merchant- j men on the American coast. It will be interesting'to see what American warships will do if .they find American merchantmen fighting for their lives against German submarines.

Even then it is improbable that Mr.

Wilson would declaro war.