When a passenger steamer, the "Sussex," plying between England and
France, was torpedoed without warning (March 24, 1916), eighty of the
passengers were killed or injured, two of the latter being Americans.
Germany at first said that one of her submarines had torpedoed a vessel
in the vicinity, but not the "Sussex." The finding of fragments of a
German torpedo on the "Sussex" after it was brought into port
conclusively proved that the Germans were responsible, and that Germany
had broken her promise. President Wilson addressed a note to the German
government, stating that he would sever diplomatic relations with it
unless Germany should both declare and effect an abandonment of her
unlawful methods of submarine warfare. Thereupon the German government
gave a written pledge that merchant ships "shall not be sunk without
warning and without saving human lives, unless these ships attempt to
escape or offer resistance." This pledge was given on the condition that
the United States should demand that Great Britain observe certain
(disputed) rules of international law; but our government refused to
agree that Germany's respect for our neutral rights should be made to
depend on the conduct of other nations. President Wilson thus made clear
his intention to sever diplomatic relations if Germany's pledge should
be withdrawn or violated.

CONSCRIPTION IN GREAT BRITAIN.--The British government had kept up its
army by volunteering. The need of an army of five million could not
depend on this plan. A conscription bill therefore was passed making all
males between certain ages liable for military service. Ireland was
excepted from the provisions of this act.

SINN FEIN REBELLION.--Some of the more radical among the Irish Home
Rule party had formed an organization known as the Sinn Fein (shin fān),