West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-07-15
submarine war on trade.

lands principal tasks To prevent food
for the German population from
reaching Germany via neutral ports.
Since March first. England has been
| taking from neutral ships without fur
| ther formality all merchandise pro-
, ceeding TO Germany. as well as al
merchandise coming from Germany.
even when neutral property Just as
II was also with the Beers. the Ger
man people is now TO be given the
choice OF pc ishing from starvation
| with it's women and children or OF re-
linquishng its independence.
While our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaimed war without mercy
until our utter destruction. we were
| conducting "A war in self-defonse for
our national existence and for the
sake OF peace of an assured perma-
nency, We have been Obliged TO
adopt submarine warfare to meet
the declared intentions OF our enc
mics and the method OF warfare
adopted by them in contravention of
international law
with all it's efforts i'm principle to
protect neutral life and property from
damage as much as possible, the Ger
man government recognized unreserv-
edly N its memorandum OF February
4 that the interests of neutrals might
suffer from the submarine warfare.
| However, the American government
VIII also understand and appreciate
that i'm the fight for existence which
has been forced upon Germany by it's
adVersaries and announced by them
II is the sacred duty Of the imperial
government to do all within its power
To protect and save the lives OF Ger
man subjects. II the imperial go.-
ernment were derelict I'm these. it's
duties. 1t would be guilty before God
and history OF the violation of those
principles of highest humanity which
are the foundation OF every national
existence
| The case of the Lusitania shows
with horrible clearnesG 10 what leo
pardizing of human lives the manner
OF conducting VIZ employed by our
adversaries leads I'm the most direct
contradiction OF international law. all
distinctions between merchantmen
and war vessels have been obliterated
by the order to British merchantmen
TO arm themselves and to ram subma-
rines, and the promise of rewards
! therefor and neutrals who use mer-
chantmcnt as travellers thereby have
been exposed in an increasing de-
gree to oil the dangers of war.
IF the commander of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lusi-
tania had caused the crew and pas-
sengers To take to the boats before fir
ing torpedo this would have meant
the sure destruction of his own vessel.
After the experience i'm sinking much
smaller and less seaworthy vessels. Il
was to be expected that n mighty ship
like the Lusitania would remain above
water long enough even after the tor
| pedoing to permit passengers To- enter
the ships boats Circumstances of n
very peculiar kind, especially the pres
ence on board Of large quantities OF
| highly explosive material (word omit
ted. possibly 'dissipatedO this expecta-
ton. In addition it may be pointed
out that If the Lusitania had been
spared thousands Of cases OF muni-
! uons would have been sent to Ger
many's enemies and thereby thou
sands of German mothers and chill
dren robbed Of bTeadwinners.
In the spirit OF friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm
bued toward the Union and it's inhab-
itants since the earliest days OF its
existence. the imperial government
will always be ready to do all IL can
during the present war also to prevent
the jeopardizing OF lives of American
citizens. The imperial government.
therefore repeats the assurances that
American ships will not be hindered
in the prosecution OF legitimate ship
ping and the lives OF American citi-
zens in neutral vessels shall not be
placed In jeopardy.
'In order to exclude any unforeseen
dangers TO American passenger
steamers, made possible I'm view of the
conduct OF maritime war by Ger
many's adyersaries, German subma-
rines will be instructed to permit the
free and safe passage OF such passcn-
ger steamers when made recognizable
by special markings and notified a rea-
sonable time In advance. The impcr-
ial government, however, confidently
hopes that the American government
will assume TO guarantee that these
vessels have no contraband on hoard
details Of arrangements for the un-
hampered passage OF these vessels Ia
be agreed upon by the naval authori-
ties Of both sides
"ln order to furnish adequate facn-
tiles for travel across the Atlantic for
American citizens. the German gov
ernment submits for consideration a
proposal 20 increase the number OF
available steamers by installing In
passenger service reasonable num-
Der Of neutral steamers under the
American flag the exact number Ia
be agreed upon under the same condi-
uon as the above mentioned steamers
The imperial government believes
IL can assume that in this manner ad-
equate facilities for travel across the
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