The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-07-13
he foundation of every national ex

The case Of the Lusitania shows
with horrible clearness to what
jeopardizing of human lives the man
ner of conducting war employed By
our adversaries leads. In the most
direct contradiction of international,
law, all distinctions between mer-
chantmen and war vessels have been
obliterated by the order to British
merchantmen to arm themselves and
TO ram submarines, and the promise
Of rewards therefor, and neutrals who
use merchantmen as travellers there
by have been exposed in an 'increas-
ing degree to all the dangers of war
Sank Too Fast.
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
firing torpedo this would have meant
the sure destruction of his own yes
sci. After the experiences in sinking
much smaller and less seaworthy yes
sells, it was to be expected that a
mighty ship like the Lusitania would
remain above water long enough after
F., the torpedoing to permit passengers
to enter the ships boats. Circum-
stances of a very peculiar kind, espe-
cially the presence on board of large
quantities of highly explosive mate
rials (word omitted possibly 'dissi-
pated'O this expectation In addition
it may be pointed out that if the Lusi-
tania had been spared thousands of
cases of munitions would have been
sent to Germany's enemies and there
by thousands of German mothers and
children robbed of breadwinners.
"In the spirit of friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm
bued towards the Union and it's inhab-
itants since the earliest days of its
existence, the imperial government
will always be ready to do all it can
during the present war also to pre-
vent the jeopardizing of lives Of Amer
lean citizens. The imperial govern
ment therefore repeats the assurances
that American ships will not be him
dered in the prosecution of legitimate
shipping and the lives of American
citizens in neutral vessels shall not be
placed in Jeopardy.
Suggests Arrangement.
'In order to exclude any unforeseen
dangers to American passenger steam
ers made possible in view of. the con-
duct of maritime war by Germany's
adversaries, German submarines will
be instructed to permit the free and
safe passage of sucn passenger steam
ers when made recognizable by special
markings and notified a reaonable
time in advance. The imperial gov
ernment, however, confidently hopes
that the American government will ~
sumo to guarantee that these vesse@s
have no contraband on board, details
of arrangement for the unhampered
passage of these vessels to be agreed
On by the naval authorities of both
sides.
'In order to furnish adequate ia
cilities for travel across the Atlantic
for American citizens the German
government submits for consideration
proposal to increase the number OF
available steamers by Installing in
passenger service a reasonable 1um-
Der of neutral steamers under the
American flag, the exact number tc
be agreed upon under the same con-
dition as the above mentioned An:eri-
can steamers. The imperial govern,
| D4CuI UCIACNCS IL SClu 04AAS S1ASS -
this manner adequate facilities fol
travel across the Atlantic ocean car
be afforded American citizens. There
would, thereto ire, appear to be nc
compelling necessity for American
citizens to travel to Europe in time
of war on ships carrying an enemy
flag.
"In particular the imperial govern
ment is unable to admit that: Ameri,
can citizens can protect an enemy shiI
through the mere fact of their pres,
ence on board
Germany merely followed Eng
lands example when she declared par
of tie high sea an area Of Wa. Con,
sequently, accidents suffered by neu
trails on enemy ships in this area OF
war can not we'll be judged differently
from accidents to which neutrals arf
at all times exposed at the seat of wal
On land Unnn thpv hptakn themselves