T HE announcement by Germany that on Thursday, Feb- ruary 1st,
a new reign of frightfulness began at sea is a very important, and infamously notable, milestone on the road of war. The Germans find much virtue in dates, and in their illusions are very largely the victims of them. Outside observers may be excused, however, if they find it impossible to believe that the Germans will be able to add anything strikingly fresh to their reoord of barbarity. The sense of the German manifesto is as follows. The German Government say that they have " conclusive proofs" that in several instances Allied hospital ships have been misused for the transport of munitions and troops ; that they have placed these proofs " through diplomatic channels " before the British and French Governments, and at the same time have declared that traffic of hospital ships in the North Sea and the English Channel will " no longer be tolerated." The importance of this manifesto consists for us, net by any means in its threats, but in its demonstration that the Germans are desperate. Uncom- promiaing moral declensions like this are a sign that every one can read.
