The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1915-07-16

In the international proceedings
winch since have been conducted for
the regulation of the laws of maritime
war Germany and America have Joint
ly advocated progressive principles,
especially the adjustment of the right
OF capture at sea, and the protection
or the interests of neutrals.
Even at the beginning of the pres
ent wal the German government i'm
mediately declared its willingness, in
response to proposals of the American
government, to ratify the declaration
OF London and thereby subject itself
IN the use Of its naval forces to all
the restrictions provided therein In ia.
for OF neutrals. Germany likewise has
beer always tenacious of the principle
that war should be conducted against
the armed and organized forces Of an
enemy country, but that the enemy
civilian population must be spared as
far as possible from the measures of
war. The imperial government cher
ishes the definite hope that some way
will be found when peace is concluded,
or perhaps earlier, to regulate the law
OF maritime wal In a manner guaran-
teeing the freedom Of the seas, and
will welcome 1t with gratitude and sat
isfaction If it can work hand and hand
with the American government on that
occasion.
III 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-
tfon at the destruction, not so much
OF the armed forces as the life of
the German nation, repudiating in do
ing so all the rules of international
law and disregarding all rights of neu-
trails.
vi ANONcuiDcI d, 1olf, GuSlduu uc-
clared the North Sea a wal area, and
by planting poorly anchored mines and
by the stoppage and capture Of YES.
sells made passage extremely danger
Gus and difficult for neutral shipping
thereby actually blockading neutral
coasts and ports contrary to all inter
national law. Long before the begin
ming of submarine war England prac
tically completely intercepted legiti
mate neutral navigation to Germany
also. Thus Germanuy was driven to {
submarine war on trade.
"On November IA, 1914, the English
premier declared in the House of Com
mons that it was one of England
principal tasks to prevent food for tn
German population from reaching Ger
many via neutral ports. Since Marcl
l England has been taking from neu
trail ships without further formalit,
all merchandise proceeding to Gel
many, as we'll as merchandise comm
from Germany, even when neutra
property. Just as 1t was also with tn
Beers, the German people is now t
be given the choice Of perishing fror
starvation with it's women and chi
dren, or of relinquishing its indepent
ence.
while our enemies thus loudly an
openly proclaimed without mercy on
utter destruction, we were conductin
a war in self-defense for our nations
existence and for the sake Of peace {
an assured permanency. We have bee
obliged to adopt a submarine warfaI
to meet the declared intentions Of o,
enemies and the methods OF warfal
adopted by them in contravention
international law.
with all its efforts in principle
protect neutral life and property fro,
!. damage as much as possible, the &c
man government recognized unrese
| eddy in its memorandum of Februal
/ 4 that the interests of neutrals mig
suffer from the submarine warfar
However, the American governmet
will also understand and apprecia
that in the fight for existence viii,
D has been forced upon Germany by 1
adversaries and announced by them
is the sacred duty Of the imperial 60
eminent to do all within its power
protect and save the lives of Germ;
subjects. II the imperial governme
were derelict in these things, its d
v ties, it would be guilty before God al
history Of the violation of these pr
ciples of highest humanity which a
the foundation Of every national {
y istence.
THE case Of the Lusitania sho,
1t with horrible clearness to what je(
e ardizing of human lives the manner
e conducting war employed by our
IS versaries leads. In the most dire
contradiction of international law,
d distinctions between merchantm
n and war vessels have been obliterat
t. by the order to British merchantm
J. to arm themselves and to ram subn
". rines, and the promise Of rewal
IS therefor, and neutrals who use m