Middletown transcript., 1915-07-17

be found when peace is concluded, or
perhaps earlier, to regulate the law OF
maritime war In a manner guaran-
teeing the freedom of the seas, and
will welcome 1t with gratitude and
satisfaction If it can work hand-in.
hand with the American Government
on that occasion.
"If in the present war the principles
which should be the ideal Of the future
have been traversed more and more,
the longer its duration, the German
Government has no guilt therein. 1t is
known to the American Government
how 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.
"On November 8, 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 dangerou:
and difficult for neutral shipping, by
that actually blockading neutral coasts
and ports contrary to all internationa
law. Long before the beginning o.
submarine warfare England practical
ly completely intercepted Legitimate
neutral navigation to Germany also
Thus Germany was driven to a sub
marine war on trade.
"On November IA, 1914, the Englisl
Premier declared in the House Of Com
mons that 1t was one Of England
principal tasks to prevent food for th'
German population from reaching Ger
many via neutral ports. Since Marcl
England has been taking from neu
trail ships without further formalit.
all merchandise proceeding to Ger
many, as we'll as all merchandise com
ing from Germany, even when neutra
property. Just as 1t was also witt
the Beers, the German people is nov
to be given the choice Of perishinl
from starvation, with it's women ant
children, or of relinguishing independ
ence.
War "For Sake OF Peace"
"While our enemies thus loudly an,
openly proclaim war without mercy un
til our utter destruction, we were cor
ducting war in self-defense for on
national existence and for the sake o
peace of an assured permanency. w
have been obliged to adopt submarin
warfare to meet the declared intention
Of our enemies and the method Of wal
fare adopted by them in contraNentio
Of international law.
/, "With all its efforts in principle I
protect neutral life and property fror
damage as much as possible, the Gel
man Government recognized unreserv
edly in its memorandum of February
that the interests of neutrals might su
+ fer from the submarine warfare. How
: ever, the American Government wi
Y also understand and appreciate that
: the fight for existence which has bee
] forced upon Germany by its adversarit
+ and announced by them, 1t is the sacre
I duty of the Imperial Government to &
n all with it's power to protect and say
h the lives of German subjects. If IL
d Imperial Government were derelict
/ these, it's duties, it would be guilty b
}, fore God and history of the violation
= those principles of highest humani
d which are the foundation Of every n
+ tional existence.
Blames AdVersaries.
: "The case Of the Lusitania shoV
h with horrible clearness to what jeopar
. izing Of human lives the manner Of CO
o ducting war employed by our advC
!. saries leads In the most direct CO
a tradiction of international law, all d
q tinctions between merchantmen al
a war vessels have been obliterated
the order to British merchantmen
arm themselves and to ram submarine
and the promise Of rewards theref'
: and neutrals who use merchantmen
: travellers thereby have been exposed
- u an increasing degree to all the dangt
q Of war.
ct sparins Lusitanla Would Have EI
TO danuered U-5oat.
in "If the commander Of the Germ
e. submarine which destroyed the LII
ne tania had caused the crew and pass
IT. gers to take to the boats before firini
ed torpedo this would have meant
at sure destruction Of his own vessel. 4
st er the experiences in sinking mi
he smaller and less seaworthy vessels,
was to be expected that mighty s.
es like the Lusitania would remain alb,
ill water long enough even after the