The Washington herald., 1914-11-09
TO TEST RIGHTS AT SEA.
Franz Hugo Krebs Suggests Manning
a Merchantmen with Sharpshooters.


Editor Washington Herald: want to
commend the Herald for its fair and i'm
a seampartiaI war news and its disnined
editorial policy. 1 am not asking you
to indorse this proposition. but doc be-
lieve personally that this should be given
wide publicity. In reference 10 the seizure
OF the Brindilla and many other Ameri-
can ships, why would II not be well 10
have the matter brought to an issue for
all time? II citizens OF the United
States acting either in person OF
through an American corporation. are
not to be allowed to purchase and make
use OF vessels or any other property
real. personal or mixed in accordance
with our laws on account OF England s
objections. why not find out how enec-
tive her veto power Is and hnd II out
now? Why would II not be a good idea
for patriotic Americans, including busi-
ness men who wish to see our merchant
marine built up to purchase n German
or Austrian steamer. register her &C
cording to law, load her with a cargo
that is not contraband preferably cot
toni and clear her for Amsterdam? Man
her with an aIl-American-born crew and
add 20 to 100 sharpshooters also
all American born; give notice that
while a search for the purpose Of see
ing that there was no contraband OF
war on board would be allowed, the
steamer would not change its destina-
ton on orders from any foreign war
vessel, that capture would be resisted
to the end. and that the steamer would
never be surrendered as long as one man
was left who could fire q gun.
OF course, any war vessel could sink
the steamer and massacre the crew,
but the sharpshooters would at least
be a guarantee that the vessel would
not be towed with a living crew on
board into Halifax to have a prize
court" there decide whether England
rights Of Americans exercised In ac-
cordance with the laws of the United
States. passed by our Congress and
approved by our President.
The release OF the Brindilla and
other ships on technical grounds is not
a satisfactory or permanent adjust
ment. We must have II definitely set
tied that when a ship is bought and
registered in accordance with the laws
Of the United States. no other country
will even dare TO maintain (unless at
war with us) that her regulations or
wishes are to contravene our laws.
When the war began we saw an
almost complete breakdown Of our
foreign carrying trade. and surely by
now every intelligent and patriotic
American is determined that our mer-
camille marine shall be adequate 20
our needs, within as short time as
may be reasonably necessary to bring
about the desired result. Never again
should the American nation be de-
pendent in a great crisis upon English.
German or, in fact, the ships of any
other country to transport its goods
and even to bring back to its shores.
American citizens stranded in other
lands through circumstances beyond
their or our control.
It seems to me that the national
homer 10 at stake as well as the na-
tionaI welfare. 1 call this to your at
tention in the hope that action may
be taken at once to bring about set
tlement of what is at present an in
tolerable situation.
In the words OF Abraham Lincoln
with malice toward none, and charity
for ALL" let us maintain the supremacy
of our laws.
1854. Washington Park, Brooklyn,
n