The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-14
MINERS REPRESENTATIVES AND
OPERATORS sign JOINT SCALE


10 the TACT that the objection TO their
present method OF attack against the
trade OF their enemies lies In the prac-
ueai impossibility OF employing sub
marines In the destruction OF com
meree without disregarding those
Ioies OF fairness. reason. justice and
humanity. which all modern opinion
ieksros as imperative IL II practic-
ally impossible for the officers OF a
submarine TO visit a merchantrnan at
sea ana examine her papers and cargo
~ II practically impossible for them
10 make q prize OF her: and II they
cannot put prize crew on board her.
they cannot sink her without leaving
her crew and all on board of her TO
the mercy OF the sea in her small
noFts These facts. II Is understood.
the imperial German government
frankly admits. We are informed that
In the Instances OF which We have
spoken time enough for even that
poor measure Of safety was not given
and In at least two OF the cases cited
not so much as a warning was re-
ceived. Msnifestly. submarines can
not be used against merchantmen. as
the last few weeks have shown. with.
out an inevitable violation OF many
sacred principles OF justice and hu-
manity.
American citizens act within their
indisputable rights In taking their
ships and In travelling wherever their
legitimate business calls them upon
the high seas. and exercise those
rights In what should be the well-jns-
Tined confidence that their lives will
not be endangered BY acts done in
clear violation Of universally acknowl-
edged international obligations. and
certainly In the confidence that their
own government will sustain them in
the exercise OF their rights
Germany's Warning.
There was recently published in
the newspapers OF the United States,
| regret to inform the imperial Ger
man government. formal warning.
purporting 10 come from the imperial
German embassy at Washington. ad-
dressed to- the people OF the United
states, and stating in effect. that any
citizen OF the United States who exer-
cised his right OF free travel upon the
seas would do so at his peril II his
journey should take him within the
zone OF waters within which the i'm
perial German navy was using ssbma-
rines against the commerce OF Great
Britain and France. Notwithstanding
the respectful but very earnest protest
OF his government. the government OF
the United States. I do not refer TO
this for the purpose OF calling the at
( tention OF the imperial German gov
eminent at this time TO the surprising
irregularity OF a Communication from
the imperial German embassy at
Washington addressed to the people
OF the United States through the news
papers. but only for the purpose of
pointing out that no warning that an
unlawful and inhumane act will be
committed can possibly be accepted
| as an excuse or palliation for that act
OF as an abatement of the RESPONSE
bility for its commission.
Orders Mlsunderstood.
Long acquainted as this govern
ment has been with the character OF
4 the imperial German government and
with the high principles Of equity by
which they have in the past been &C
tuated and guided. the government OF
the United States cannot believe that
the commanders OF the vessels which
committed these acts OF lawlessness
! did so except under a misapprehen-
sion of the orders issued by the inn
perial German naval authorities. II
takes IL for granted that. at least with
in the practical possibilities OF every
such case, the commanders even OF
submarines were expected to do moth
ing that would involve the lives of
| non-combatants or the safety OF neu-
trail ships. even at the cost of falling
OF their object OF capture or destruc-
! ton. IL confidently expects. there
fore. that the imperial German gov
eminent will disavow the acts OF
which the government OF the United
states complains. that they will make
I reparation so far as reparation is pos
Z sible for injuries which are without
measure and that they will take i'm
mediate steps TO prevent the recur-
renee OF anything so obviously sub
versive OF the principles OF warfare
for which the imperial government
have in the past so wisely and so
J firmly eontended.
Expect Just Action.
The government and people OF the
United States look to the imperial
German government for Just. prompt.
and enlightened action in this vital
matter with the greater confidence
because the United States and Ger.
many are bound together not only BY
special ties Of friendship but also by
! the explicit stipulations Of the treaty
OF 1928 between the United States
and the Kingdom Of Prussia.
Expressions Of regret and offers
Of PREPARATION In case Of the destruc-
ton Of neutral ships sunk by mistake
while they may satisfy international
obligations. N no loss Of life results.
cannot justify or excuse n practice.
the natural and necessary effect Of
which Is 10 subject neutral nations
and neutral persons 10 new and ..
measurable riska
The imperial German government
vii not expect the government OF the
United States 10 omit any word or
any act necessary 10 the performance
of its sacred duty az maintaining the
rights Of the United States and ifs
citizens and of saferuarding their
free exercise and enjoyment
Bryan"