id admit, however,
that one of her submarines had been in action near the place where the
_Sussex_ was sent to the bottom.

Eight days later President Wilson threatened Germany that he would
break off diplomatic relations if similar acts recurred. Perhaps because
she was biding her time Germany on May 4th gave a "promise" that no more
ships should be sunk without warning.

In October of that same year (1916) a German submarine appeared off the
New England coast. Her officers put into Newport and it is said were
even graciously received and most courteously treated. Then, in return
for the hospitality thus received, the submarine sank the _Stephano_,
which had a large body of Americans on board returning from a vacation
spent in Newfoundland. Without doubt many would have been lost if
American men-of-war had not been at hand to rescue the victims from the
water. Still, apparently there was not even a thought in the minds of
Germany's rulers, that they had violated any rules of decency, to say
nothing of rules of right.

The patience of the United States was near the breaking point when still
the dastardly deeds did not cease, and few were surprised when at last,
January 31, 1917, Germany discovered that deceit no longer was possible
and that the patience and hope of America could no longer be abused. On
that date the German leaders came out openly and informed the President
that they planned to "begin an unrestricted submarine war." Three days
afterward President Wilson gave the German ambassador to the United
States his passports and recalled the American ambassador (Gerard) from
Berlin.

Such evasion and hypocrisy, such wanton brutality and cruelty as had
been displayed by Germany were without parallel in history--or at least
since the history of civilization began. Naturally a declaration of war
by the United States was the only possible outcome.

The unlawful sinking of American vessels or of other vessels having
Americans on board makes up a list that is striking when it is looked at
as a whole and it is recalled that they had been sunk after Germany had
"ruthlessly" repudiated the pledges she had given.

_Housatonic_, February 3, 1917.
_Lyman M. Law_, February 13, 1917.
_Algonquin_, March 2, 1917.
_Vigilancia_, March 16, 1917.
_City of Memphis_, March 17, 1917.
_Illinois_, March 17, 1917.
_Healdton_, March 21, 1917 (sunk outside the