hips to German ports, the submarines would sink them, often without
providing for the safety of the passengers and crews. The ultimate
object of this course of action was so to reduce the world's shipping as
to make it impossible for Great Britain to be supplied with the food or
other materials that would enable her to carry on the war. This method
of warfare, however, was contrary to the well established rules of
international law. Against it the United States and other neutrals made
vigorous protests.

THE LUSITANIA.--The most notable loss by submarine attack was that of
the "Lusitania," sunk without warning off the coast of Ireland on May 7,
1915. Nearly twelve hundred lives were lost, including many women and
children. One hundred and fourteen of those lost were Americans. An
advertisement had been inserted in the papers warning passengers not to
travel on Allied ships, but no one believed that Germany would go so far
in violation of international law as to torpedo, without warning, a
passenger vessel carrying civilians of neutral as well as of warring
nations. The people of the whole civilized world were horrified by the
deed. Germany's attitude is shown by the fact that medals were struck
commemorating the act, and the commander of the submarine was rewarded.

President Wilson wrote a series of notes to the German government
insisting that Germany conduct her warfare in accordance with
international law. This resulted in a promise by the German minister to
the United States, that liners would not be sunk by German submarines
without warning and without safety to the lives of noncombatants,
provided that the liners did not try to escape or offer resistance.

RAIDS ON COAST TOWNS.--Several times in 1914 German vessels managed to
escape through the cordon of Allied ships. They proceeded to the east
coast of England and bombarded defenseless fishing ports and watering
places such as Yarmouth, Whitby, and Scarborough. These raids had no
military effect, but they resulted in the killing or wounding of
hundreds of women, children, and old men. They were undertaken for the
purpose of terrorizing the civilian population of England in order to
arouse a desire for peace. In January, 1915, a German squadron
attempting a similar raid was intercepted and defeated by British war
ships.

ZEPPELINS.--At the outset Germany had great faith in the usefulness of
her immense dirigible balloons, or Zep'pelins, as they are commonly
c