The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-28

ents to find a way to ADOPT the new
circumstances to them.
The events of the past two months
have clearly indicated that it is pos
sible and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have char
acterized the activity Of the imperial
German navy within the socalled war
zone in substantial accord with the
accepted practices of regulated war;
fare. The whole world has looked
with interest and increasing satisfac-
tion at the demonstration Of that
possibility by German naval comman-
ders. 1t is manifestly possible, there
fore, to lift the whole practice of
submarine attack above the criticism
which it has aroused and remove the
chief cause Of offense.
in view Of the admission Of illegal
ity made by the imperial German gov
ernment when it pleaded the right of
retaliation in defense of its acts and
in view Of the manifest possibility of
conforming to the established rules
OF naval warfare the government of
the United States can not believe that
the imperial German government will
longer refrain from disavowing the
wantOn act Of it's naval commander in
sinking the Lusitania or from Offering
reparation for the American lives lost.
SO far as reparation can be made for a
needless destruction of human life by
an illegal act.
The government of the United
States, while not Indifferent to the
friendly spirit in which it is made.
can not accept the suggestion Of tn
imperial German government that
certain vessels be designated and
agreed upon which shall be free on
the seas now illegally prescribed.
The very agreement, would, by impli-
cation, subject other vessels to illegal
attack, and would be q curtailment
and therefore an abandonment Of the
principles for which this govern
ment contends and which in times of
calmer counsels every nation would
concede as Of course.
The government Of the United
States and the imperial German gov
ernment are contending for the same
great object, have long stood together
in urging the very principles upon
which the government of the United
States now SO solemnly insists. They
are both contending for the freedom
OF the seas.
The government of the United
States will continue to contend for
that freedom, from whatever quarter
violated, without compromise and at
any cost. 1t invites the practical CO.
operation Of the imperial German
government at this time when COOP
Grafton may accomplish most and
this great common object be most
strikingly and effectively achieved.
The imperial German government
expresses the hope that this object
may be in some measure ACCOMPLISH
ed even before the present war ends
1t can be. The government of the
United States not only feels obliged
to insist upon it, by whomsoever VIC.
lated or ignored. in the protection of
its own citiz ms, but is also deeply
interested in seeing it made practi-
cable between the belligerents them.
selves, and holds itself ready at any
| time to act as the common friend
who may be privileged to suggest a
| way.
In the meantime the very value
which the government sets upon the
long and unbrOken friendship be-
tween the people and government of
the United States and the people and
government of the German nation
impels it to press very solemnly upon
the imperial German government the
necessity for scrupulous observance
of neutral rights in this critical mat
ter. Friendship itself prompts it to
say to the imperial German govern
ment that repetition by the comman-
ders OF German naval vessels Of acts
In contravention Of those rights must
be regarded by the government of the
United States, when they affect Amer
lean citizens, as deliberately un-
friendly. Lansing