Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-06-17

safety of the lives OF those on board
the merchantmen, although the vessel
had ceased her attempt 10 escape
when torpedoed. These are not new
circumstances. They have beer il the
minds OF statesmen and OF interna-
tional iurists throughout the develop
ment of naval warfare. and the gov
eminent Of the United States does not
understand that they have ever been
held TO alter the principles Of human
ity upon which II has insisted. Moth
ing but actual forcibIe resistance or
continued efforts to escape by flight
when ordered to step for the purpose
Of visit on the part Of the merchant
man, has ever been held to forfeit the
lives of her passengers or crew. The
government of the United States, how
ever, does not understand that the i'm
perial German government is seeking
in this case to relieve itself Of habil-
ity, but only intends to set forth the
circumstances which led the COM
mander Of the submarine TO allow him
self to be hurried into the course
which he took.
Lusitania Was Not Armed.
Your exceIIency's note, in discuss
ing the loss of American lives result
ing from the sinking of the steamship
Lusitania, adverts at some length to
certain information which the i'm
perial German government has re-
ceived with regard to character and
outfit of that vessel, and your excel
lency expresses the fear that this In
formation may not have been brought
to the attention Of the government OF
the United States. It is stated in the
the note that the Lusitania was IN
doubtedly equipped with masked guns.
supplied with trained gunners and spe-
cial ammunition, Transporting troops
from Canada, carrying a cargo not
permitted under the laws Of the
United States to a vessel also carry
ing passengers, and serving, in virtual
effect, as an auxiliary to the naval
forces Of Great Britain. Fortunately
these are matters concerning which
the government of the United States
is in position to give the imperial
German government official fnforma-
ton. OF the facts alleged in your ex-
celency's note, if true, the govern
ment of the United States would have
been bound to take official cognizance
in performing it's recognized duty as
neutral power and in enforcing its ma
tional laws. 1t was its duty to see to
it that the Lusitania was not armed
for offensive action, that she was not
serving as a transport, that she did
not carry a cargo prohibited by the
statutes of the United States and
that, If in fact she was naval. vessel
Of Great Britain, she would not re-
ceive clearances as a merchantmen;
and 1t performed that duty and en-
forced it's statutes with scrupulous
vigilance through it's regularly consti-
tuted officials. It is able, therefore, to
assure the imperial German govern
ment that it has been misinformed.
Contentious Are Irrelevant.
IF the imperial German government
should deem itself to be in possession
of convincing evidence that the Off
Gals of the government of the United
States did not perform these duties
with thoroughness, the government of
the United States sincerely hopes that
it will submit that evidence for con-
sideration.
Whatever may be the contentious
Of the imperial German government
regarding the carriage of contraband
of war on board the Lusitania or re-
garding the explosion of that material
by the torpedo, 1t need only be said
that in the view of this government,
these contentious are irrelevant to the
question of the legality of the methods
used by the German naval authorities
in sinking the vessel.
Seeks Rights of Humanity.
But the sinking of passenger ships
involves principles of humanity which
throw into the background any special
circumstances of detail that may be
thought to affect the cases, principles
which lift 1t, as the imperial German
government will no doubt be quick
to recognize and acknowledge, out of
the class of ordinary subjects of dip
lomatic discussion or Of international
controversy. Whatever be the other
facts regarding the Lusitania, the
principal fact is that a great steam
er. primarily and chiefly a convey
ance for passengers, and carrying
| more than a thousand souls who had
| no part or lot in the conduct of the
war, was torpedoed and sunk with
out SO much as a challenge or a warn
| ing, and that men, women and chill
dren were sent to their death in cir
| cumstances unparalleled in modern
warfare. The fact that more than 100
American citizens were among those
who persisted, made it the duty of
the government of the United States
| to speak of these things and once
more, with solemn emphasis, to call
the attention of the imperial German
government to the grave responsible
| ity which the government of the
United States conceives that it has
! incurred in this tragic occurrence,
and to the indisputable principle upon
which that responsibility rests. The
government of the United States is
contending for something much great
er than mere rights of property or
privileges of commerce 1t is con-
tending for nothing less high and sa-
cred than the rights of humanity,
which every government honors it.
self In respecting and which no gov
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Experienced.
Bill-"So his son has gone to the
WARP" Jill-"Yes, indeed" DO you