The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-10
His Plan to "Protect" Ameri-
cans Yelled Blow at Allies.
Proposal for Immunity Direct
ly Hostile to Washington.
TOO MANY STRINGS TO REPLY
Lusitania Outrage Appears
More Formidable Than Ever.
Wilhelm Boldly Tries to Justify
Ocean Horror.
new "DOCTRINE" FOR NATIONS
Germany's "COde" to Hamper
Neutrals' Rights on Ships.
President Firm for Accepted
Principles of Humanity.
BY JOHN EDWIN NEVIN.

|
Washington, July 1O.-Ger-
many has enunciated new doc
trine of international law.
This was the Interpretation
placed by officials today on the
unofficial text of the German
reply cabled from Berlin. In
the absence of the official text
and of President Wilson from
the capital, administration
chiefs declined comment for
publication, but privately they
expressed great disappointment
at the strings attached by Ger
many to the concessions to the
United States.
! Back to First Principles of War.
The justification of the sinking of
the Lusitania was keenly felt, mas
much as President Wilson made the
fate of the Americans on that partic-
u1ar vessel the chief text of his last
two communications. Throughout the
entire note. critics stated, Germany
returned to the first principles of war
fare.
Attention was called also to the fact
that while American shipping is de-
clared immune from molestation, in
this connection Germany enunciated
the new principle which is entirely
hostile to the American position taken
by President Wilson that American
citizens can go where they please on
the high seas.
Denial of Previous Claims.
In particular, the imperial govern
ment is unable to hold that American
citizens can protect an enemy's ships
through the mere fact of their pres
ence aboard" says Germany. This was
declared to be a direct denial of pre-
vious claims.
Next came the German terms to al
low American ships unmoIested pas
sage through the submarine zone.
Similar privileges, said the note, will
/ be extended to neutral ships and, If
these are not enough. Germany offers
TO permit four enemy ships carrying
the American flag to operate unmo-
Tested.
In return, Germany states that she
entertains the confident hope that
the American government will see that
lts ships do not carry contra band;
such ships to be provided with distin-
gushing marks and their arrival an
nounced reasonable length of time
in advance
Surrender of Neutral Rights.
rms suggestion, officials declared.
carries with It surrender of neutral
rights that the United States cannot
consent TO- 1t was pointed out that,
should this government attempt to
guarantee that cargoes were noncon-
ira band, it would be entering the war
as Germany's ally, inasmuch as it
would be serving notice that all Allan |
tic liners not protected by the Ameri
can flag or designated neutral flag
We're prey for German submarines.
The German position on the Lusi |
tanla, set forth in the following state /
ment, was deemed especially impor-
tant:
The case of the Lusitania shows
with horrible clearneSS to what
Jeopardizing of human lives the
manner of conducting war en-
pioyed by our adverSarieS leads.
IN the most direct contradiction
OF international law, all distinc-
tlons between merchantmen and
war vessels have been obliterated
by the order to British merchant
men to arm themselves and to
ram submarines and the promise
OF rewards therefor and neutrals
VINO use merchantmen as travel
ers. are thereby exposed in an in
creasIng degree to all the dangers
of war.
Act of Self Preservation
II the commander of the Ger
man submarine which destroyed
the Lusitania had caused the crew
and passengers to take to the
boats before firing a torpedo, this
would have meant the sure de-
structlon of his own vessel. After
the experiences in sinking much
smaler and less seaworthy ves-
SeiS, II was to be expected that
mighty ship like the Lusitania
would remain above water long
enough even after the torpedoing
to permit passengers to enter the
ships boats Circumstances of a
very peculiar kind, especially the
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