The pressing need of shipping to transfer men and supplies to France was met in several ways. By Jan. 29, 1918, it was announced that the damage done by the crews to the seized German ships had been repaired, thus making available a tonnage of over 600,000. By an agree ment with Japan and some of the neutral nations, 400,000 more tons were added to the total. On March 14, the United States and Great Britain announced their intention of seizing over 600,000 tons of Dutch shipping that was lying in their harbors, making compensation for them at the end of the war, in the meantime supplying food and fuel to Holland. This action was protested by the Dutch Government, though it was strictly in accordance with the principles of inter national law, and was duly carried out.
It was stated in Washington on Nov. 7, 1917, that the army at that time was 1,800,000 strong. A movement was set on foot to classify the 9,000,000 regis trants under the first draft, putting into Class I those who were unmarried or without dependents, and making them the first ones subject to the nation's call. It was believed that by this method, 2,000, 000 more men would be made almost immediately available for service.
Notable among the non-military events shortly following the advent of America as a combatant had been the Pope's ap peal for peace. This was made public in this country on Aug. 16, 1917. The letter was couched in a benevolent form, and was received with respect because of the position held by the author and the lofty sentiments that inspired it. Pope Benedict, after deploring the hor rors of the conflict, suggested as a basis of settlement a decrease of armaments, the freedom of the seas, no indemnity, the evacuation of Belgium, and the res titution of the German colonies. While the appeal was addressed to all the bel ligerents, the answer of the Entente was embodied in a reply to the letter made by President Wilson on Aug. 27. He pointed out that the Pontiff's proposal prac tically involved a return to the status quo ante. This, in view of Germany's unrepentance and continuing ambition, would only give that Government time for a recuperation of its strength and re newal of the attack upon civilization. He declared that "we cannot take the word of the present rulers of Germany as a guarantee of anything that will endure unless explicitly supported by suck con clusive evidence of the will and purpose of the German people themselves as the other peoples of the world would be justified in accepting."
The answer was approved heartily by all the nations of the Entente. By the German Government and press it was bitterly denounced as an attempt to drive a wedge between the Government and the people. The replies of the German Pow ers to the Pope, while sympathetic, were non-committal, and the intervention had no result.
The alertness of the American Secret Service, which had previously caused Germany such discomfiture by the pub lication of the Zimmermann note, was illustrated anew on Sept. 8, 1917, by the giving to the world of certain telegrams that had been sent in cipher to the Berlin Foreign Office by the German Charge d'Affaires at Buenos Aires, Argentina. As a demonstration of perfidy and heart lessness, it created an immense sensation. It was dated May 19, 1917, and read : "This Government has now released German and Austrian ships on which hitherto a guard had been placed. In consequence of the settlement of the Monte (Protegido) case there has been a great change in public feeling. Gov ernment will in future only clear 'Argen tine ships as far as Las Palmas. I beg that the small steamers 'Oran' and `Guazo,' 31st of January, 300 tons, which are now nearing Bordeaux with a view to change the flag, may be spared if possible or else sunk without a trace being left (spurlos versenkt). LUXBURG." Other despatches described the Ar gentine Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs as a "notorious ass and Anglo phile." But it was the "spurlos ver senkt" cipher, recommending the but chery if necessary of helpless crews so that their fate might never be known, that stirred the world with indignation. In Argentina the feeling was exceedingly bitter and German shops were wrecked and newspaper offices burned. Luxburg was promptly given his passports by the Argentine Government.
America was chiefly concerned, how ever, by the fact that the Swedish Lega tion at Buenos Aires had allowed itself to be used for the transmission of the despatches. This was regarded as a serious breach of neutrality. The Swed ish people themselves severely criticised their Government in the matter. The Swedish Government, on Sept. 15, an nounced that no further messages of any sort would be forwarded for Germany from any point. The German Govern ment on Sept. 17 expressed "keen regret" for the embarrassment that had been caused Sweden by the incident.