The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-07-17
q Mark Steamers and
IT. s. to Guarantee Cargo

uTuIltcS SuTXO
'eace is concluded or perhaps earlier
o regulate the law of maritime war in
! manner guaranteeing the freedom of
he seas and will welcome 1t with |
gratitude and satisfaction IL 1t can
work hand in hand with the Ameri |
,an government on that occasion.
Germany Not Guilty.
'If in the present war the princi-
Pies which should be the ideals of the
future have been traversed more and
more, the longer its duration, the Ger.
man government has no guilt therein.
It is known to the American govern
ment how Germany's adversaries, by
paralyzing peaceable traf-
fic between Germany and neutral coun-
tries have aimed from Meevery begin
ming, and with increasing lack Of con-
sideration, at the destruction, not so
much of the armed forces as the life
of the German nation, repudiating in
doing so all the rules of international
law and disregarding all the rights Of
neutrals.
"On November 3, 1914, England de-
clared the North sea a war area and
by planting poorly anchored mines
and by the stoppage and capture OF
vessels, made passage extremely dan
gerous and difficult for neutral ship.
ping, by that actually blockading neu,
trail coasts and ports contrary to A.;
international law. Long before the
beginning of submarine warfare Eng
land practically completely intercept
ed legitimate neutral navigation to
Germany also. Thus Germany wa.
driven to a submarine war on trade.
War on Food Traffic.
"On November Ia, 1914, the Englisl
premier declared in the House o
Commons that it was one of England
principal tasks to prevent food for IT,,
German population from reaching Gel
many, via neutral ports. Since Marcl
/, England has been taking from neu
trail ships without further formalit
all merchandise proceeding to Gel
many as well as all merchandise CON
ing from Germany, even when neutrs
property. Just as 1t was also with tn
Beers, the German people is now
be given the choice of perishing fror
. starvation with it's women and chi
dren and of relinquishing its ind
pendence.
while our enemies thus loudly an
openly proclaimed war without nero
until our utter destruction. we wei
conducting a war In self-defense fl
our national existence and for II
. sake of peace of an assured permane
!, cy. We have been obliged to adopt
submarine warfare to meet the d
clared intention of our enemies al
!. methods of warfare adopted by the
in contravention of information
!. law.
,el Knew NeutraIs Might Suffer.
with all its efforts in principle
!, protect neutral life and property fro
!, damage as much as possible, the CT
man government recognized 'upswer
!, ingly in its memorandum Of Februa
. that the interests of neutrals mig
"a suffer from the submarine warfal
. However, the American govemme
,s lalso will understand and apprecia
= that in the fight for existence whi
= has been forced upon Germany by
:. adversaries and announced by the
it is the sacred duty of the imper
government to do all within
"A power to protect and save the lives
y German subjects. II the imper
\. government were derelict in these.
4. duties, 1t would be guilty before G
"a and history of the violation of I
y. principles of highest humanity whi
~ are the foundation of every natioI
IN existence.
n The case Of the Lusitania sho
"A with horrible clearness to what ]
\ pardizing of human lives In the M
q ner of conducting war employed
n our adversaries leads. In the most
:, rect contradiction of international ID
all distinctions between merchantn
,a and war vessels have been oblitera
by the order to British merchantn
- to arm themselves and to ram subj
va rines and the promise Of rewa
!. therefor, and neutrals who use n
!. chantmen as travellers, thereby h,
"A been exposed to the increasinss d
No. gers of war.
of Quick Sinking Surprise.
o. "If the commander OF the Germ
submarine which destroyed the L
tania had caused the crew and I
es- sengers to take to the boats before
m- ing a torpedo, this would have me
In the sure destruction of his own YES
,rt- After the experiences In sinking m
ra- smaller and less seaworthy vessel
it was to be expected that mighty q
to like the Lusitania would remain alb
Elm water long enough even after the
ke- pedoing to permit passengers to er
the the ships boats. Circumstances {
let. very peculiar kind. especially the p
zed ence on board Of large quantities
hat highly explosive materials defes
b" the expectation. In addition it /
the be pointed out that IL the Lusit:
,ov- had been spared thousands of case
ope munitions would have been sent
hen Germany's enemies and thereby Il