The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1915-07-17

Regarding Lusitania Affair-Refuses to
Disavow Sinking of Ship-Blame Thrown
on England-Will not Molest American
Ships Suggests Novel plan for Ocean
Travel-Stands Firm on Submarine
Warfare
The event Of the week attracting by far
the most attention of the American people,
has been the receipt of Germany's note
relative to the sinking of the Lusitania.
The German reply was published
throughout the country on July 10th, and
has been received with decided disap-
pointment for the most part, the questions
at issue now seeming to loom up more
formidable than ever
That the situation is fraught with dan
gerous possibilities can not be ignored.
1t begins to appear that the correspond
ence between the two countries is simply
revolving in circle without arriving at
anything definite; just how long this will
continue cannot be stated, and a break in
diplomatic relations is feared.
Lusitania Affair, not Disavowed
Instead of disavowing the sinking Of
the Lusitania with Americans on board, as
had been hoped, the note enters into a
defense Of the act, shifting the entire
blame on England; she is charged with
completely paralyzing peacable traffic be-
tween Germany and neutral countries, and
aiming at the destruction, not so much of
armed forces, as the life of the German
nation" The assertion is made that Eng
land herself started this method Of war
fare on November 3, 1914, by declaring
the North Sea war area, and by planting
mines, thereby making passage extremely
dangerous for neutral shipping.
Germany Forced into Submarine Warfare.
Continuing, the note says Germany
was driven to submarine war on trade.
"On November IA, 1914 the English
premier declared in the house Of commons
that it was one of England's principal
tasks to prevent food for the German pop
ulation from reaching Germany via neu-
trail ports.
FSince March England has been taking
from neutral ships without further form
ality all merchandise proceeding to Ger
many, as well as all merchandise coming
from Germany, even when neutral prop
erty. Just as it was also with the Beers,
the German people are now to be given
the choice of perishing from starvation
with it's women and children or Of relin-
gushing it's independence"
British Merchantmen Arm Themselves.
Referring directly to the Lusitania af-
fair, the statement is made:
FThe case of the Lusitania shows with
horrible clearness to what jeopardlzlng OF
human lives the manner Of conducting war
employed by our adversaries leads. In
the most, direct contradiction Of interna-
tional law all distinctions between mer-
chantmen and war vessels have been OBJ
liberated by the order to British merchant
men to arm themselves and to ram sub
marines, and the promise Of rewards
therefor and neutrals who use merchant
men as travellers thereby have been ex-
posed in an increasing degree to all the
dangers Of war
eff the commander Of the German sub
marine which destroyed the Lusitania had
caused the crew and passengers to take
to the boats before firing torpedo this
would have meant the sure destruction OF
his own vessel
"After the experiences in sinking much
smaller and less seaworthy vessels, 1t was
to be expected that mighty ship like the
Lusitania would remain above water long
enough after the torpedoing to permit
passengers to enter the ships boats. Cir
cumstances of very peculiar kind, es-
pecially the presence on board OF large