The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-02-24

The action Of the German gov
eminent In proclaiming the
waters surrounding Great Britain
and ireland a war rome. which
neutral shipping will enter al its
peril. creates an extremely dan
gerous situation. War zones in
this sense are wholly unknown in
International law. or In the pre-
Nious practice OF nations AZ war.
The creation OF such an area. in
which the destructive forces OF
war are unfortunately let loose
against all. whether friends or en-
emies. who may venture within IL.
comes dangerously near to being
. declaration OF war against neu-
tral commerce. IL reyives and
puts into effect. In It's most OBJ
noSious form. a doctrine Of bel
ligerent rights. which has for n
century been as dead as the prac-
tice OF issuing letters OF marque
or other ferns of leRalized piracy
the doctrine. namely. that n@u-
trails have no rights which bel
hgerents q bound to respect:
that a neutral nation may proper
" be called upon TO choose be-
tween suicide and war. So we
are now told that we must choose
between the abandonment of our
commerce with Europe-with the
consequent paralysis Of our in
dustry aud tho suffering and mis-
cry which that will entail-or war
with INaEAma ANnHNa .
Us Is against US.
As In the case OF the rape Of
Belgium. the war on neutral com
merce is justified by the plea Of
national necessity. but this plea
not only throws overheard the
hard won public right OF Eu.
rope. guaranteed by information
al law. but wholly begs the ques-
ton Of neutral rights. The Ger
man argument 10 this.
Great Britain. by her command OF
h sea. Is threatening Germany
with starvation. Therefore we
must. by any means in our power.
reduce the English to starvation
and neutrals must take their
chances. The fight we enter
upon February 18th must be
fought with all recklessness."
says the German Lokal Anzeiger.
and the Germans have resolved
10 fight without regard for conse-
~Quences."
II Is heroic doctrine. suited TO
a race OF supermen who have put
themselves above the information
al law OF the civilized world
who. indeed. create their own in
ternational law on their " ma
tional necessities-but lit leaves
out of account the gains which
neutral peoples have in the last
hundred years made in power. in
huence and resolution. II is in.
conceivable that any neutral
power which has the strength
end courage TO resist this usurpa-
lion on neutral rights will tame
~ acquiesce in the position TO
which this doctrine assigns her.
So far as our country Is con
cerned. the issue Is clearly Joined.
To Germany's declaration that
Neutral vessels which enter
those closed waters will them
wv Wv AfEIhNEAuAAANN
for any unfortunate accidents
that may occur: Germany dis
claims oil responsibility for
such accidents and their conse-
duences.
n government has already re-
piled in terms whose significance
will not no mistaken:
IT such p deDlorable situation
should arise. the imperial Ger
man government al readily
appreciate that the government
Of the United States would he
constrained to hold the Impe-
rial government OF Germany 10
P strict accountability Tor such
acts of their naval authorities.
and TO lake any steps 10 might
be necessary TO safeguard
American lives and property.