The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-07-15

now Germany's adVersaries, by com
pletely paralyzing peaceable traffic be
tween Germany and neutral countries
have aimed from the very beginning
and with increasing lack OF considera
tion at the destruction, not so much
Of the armed forces as the life OF the
German nation, repudiating in doing
so all the rules OF international law
and disregarding all rights Of neutrals
North Sea War Area.
ION November 3. 1914. England de.
clared the North Sea a war area and
by planting poorly anchored mines and
by the stoppage and capture Of YES
sells made passage extremely dangerous
and difficult for neutral shipping, by
that actually blockading neutral coasts
and ports contrary to all international
law. Long before the beginning Of
submarine warfare England practical
ly completely intercepted legitimate
neutral navigation to Germany also.
Thus Germany was driven to sub
marine war on trade.
"on November IA, 1914. the English
Premier declared in the House Of Com.
mons that Il was one Of England's
principal tasks 10 prevent food for the
German population from reaching Ger
many via neutral ports Since March
l England has been taking from neu-
tral ships without further formality
all merchandise proceeding to Ger
many, as we'll as all merchandise com
ing from Germany even when neutral
property. Just as Il was also with
the Beers. the German people Is now
TO be given the choice Of perishing
from starvation, with its women and
children, or of rslinguishing independ
ence.
War "For Sake OF Peace"
while our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaim war without mercy un-
III our utter destruction. we were con-
ducting a war in selfdefense for our
national existence and for the sake Of
peace Of an assured permanency. We
have been obliged to adopt a submarine
warfare to meet the declared intention
Of our enemies and the method Of war
fare adopted by them in contraventiOn
OF international law.
with all its efforts in principle to
] protect neutral life and property from
damage as much as possible, the Ger.
man Government recognized unreserv-
edly in It's memorandum Of February 4
that the interests Of neutrals might suf-
fer from the submarine warfare. How
ever. the American Government will
also understand and appreciate that in
the fight for existence which has been
forced upon Germany by its adversaries
and announced by them. Il is the sacred
duty Of the Imperial Government to do
all with its power TO protect and save
the lives OF German subjects. II the
Imperial Government were derelict in
these Its duties, It would be guilty be-
fore God and history Of the violation OF
those principles OF highest humanity
which are the foundation Of every ma
tional existence.
Blames Adyersarles.
THE case Of the Lusitania shows
with horrible clearness to what leopard
izing of human lives the manner Of con.
ducting war employed by our adyer.
sarles leads. In the most direct CON
tradiction Of international law. all dis.
tinctlons between merchantmen and
war vessels have been obliterated by
the order to British merchantmen to
arm themselves and 10 ram submarines,
.and the promise Of rewards therefor,
and neutrals who use merchantmen as
travellers thereby have been exposed in
an increasing degree to all the dangers
Of war.
spsrine Lusltania Would Have En-.
daneered U.6ost.
III the commander Of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lusi
tania had caused the crew and passen
gers to take to the boats before firing a
torpedo this would have meant the
sure destruction OF his own vessel. Aft
er the experiences In sinking much
smaller and less seaworthy vessels, It
was 10 be expected that a mighty shiI
/ like the Lusitania would remain above
water long enough even after the tor
pedoing to permit passengers to enter
the ships boats Circumstances Of 6
very peculiar kind, especially the pres
ence on board OF large quantities oi
highly explosive materials (word omit
ted. possibly "disslpated") this ex
pectation. In addition, it may b,
pointed out that II the Lusitania haC
been spared thousands Of cases OF am
munition would have been sent to Ger
many's enemies and thereby thousands
OF German mothers and children
robbed OF bread winners.
"In the spirit OF friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm
bued toward the Union and Its in
habitants since the earliest days oi
its existence, the Imperial Govern
ment will always be ready to do all
II can during the present war also tc
prevent the jeopardiEing of lives Of
American citizens. The Imperial
Government therefore, repeats the
assurances that American ships will
not be hlndered in the prosecution oI
legitimate shipping and the lives o.
American citizens in neutral vessels
shall not be placed in jeopardy.