The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1915-02-26

n
!. Recently Germany issued an orde
taking over for the government a
food. England hitherto held to tn
principle that food intended for tn
. civilians was not contraband, blu
r England clearly stated that the foo
e must be consigned not to order, bu
t to private firms.
t England's position was that t
: admit the right to send food int
Germany for the use of civilian
would be a mere subterfuge, becaus
the German government could i'm
mediately take over food from it
civilians for it's army. England hat
some ground for this contention, be
cause in Germany everyone is hello
to be part of the army.
This doctrine of the army includ.
ing all the people is clearly set forth
by Treitske.
Germany now declares all waters
around England to be in the "war
zone" and counters on England by
attempting to destroy England S
food ships, thereby starving Eng
land.
Germany says that if neutral ships
carrying noncontrabands are in
these waters and they are destroyed
by submarines, then there can be no
redress. The position of Germany is
that the submarine cannot await to
ascertain the identity of ship.
The very fact of declaring a sea
territory to be a war zone is to
Germany's mind sufficient warning
to all neutrals to keep out.
In the old days, before ships of
commerce were destroyed, the pas
sengers and crews were taken off.
There is not room in a submarine
for anyone else than the crew, and |
II a submarine comes to the top of |
the water for the purpose of inspec-
ton, a shell from a three-inch gun
exploded in it's interior can destroy
it.
The United States contends that
it has right in war zones with it's
neutral commerce and that the sub
marine must ascertain the identity
If a ship before destroying it, and
hat if the submarine cannot do so,
hen the submarine must not act.
Both the English and German
principles are clearly in defiance of
international GUS
oms
The German principle is the more
rutal, because in it's operation
here is reckless disregard for HUI
IAN life.
England proposes to stop provis-
ons going into Germany by taking
ossession of ships. Germany pro-
oses to retaliate by destroying
hips and crews.
The United States has already
aid to Germany that if one of our
lips OF commerce is destroyed I'M
er the German programme that we
Ill hold that government to
strict accountability"
When one nation says to another
alton that in the event of a certain
It being done it will be held to a
strict accountability" those words
ave a sinister import.
persistence in the thing object
to may lead to the dernier resort
nations-war.
The action of Germany in this
after has already brought protests
ON Norway, Denmark and Holland.
lie United States has already pro- h
Sted both to Germany and to Eng
nd.
The merchants of this country +
We a right to snip provisions of y
sorts to citizens of belligerent
Wers. Under certain conditions -
e provisions may be seized, bu, -
der no law or treaty can they be II
stroyed at sea, with the possible
struction of the ship, crew and
ssengers. iii
The citizens of the United States iii
We right to sell guns, ammuni- Hi
~ cannon and everything except iii
FPS of war to belligerents. An I'LL
envy of the nation buying guns
" seize them and destroy them iii
cause they are contraband.
The merchants in the United I3E
ates in no way involve this coun- Hill
when they make delivery of these
ltraband goods at our borders.
wing it to the purchaser to get iii
I'M to their destination. iii
he belligerents are fast coming to HI
It point that orientals reach when II
y run amuck. III
The United States is the largest Hi
the neutral nations. From it all Hill
the belligerents are drawing such IIII
piles as they can secure. In IIII
ry transaction there is danger. Hill
Irl1