The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-14

ture OF vessels made passage extreme
ly dangerous and difficult for neutral
'hipping. so (by) that actually block
aiding neutral coasts and ports con-
trary to all international law. Long
before the beginning of submarine
war England practically completely
intercepted legitimate neutral nav
igatfon 70 Germany also. Thus
Germany was driven to sub
marine war on trade. On November
IL. 1914. the English premier de-
clared In the house OF commons that
II was one OF Epgland's principal tasks
to prevent food for the German pop-
ulation from reaching Germany, via
neutral ports. Since March Eng
land has been taking from neutral
ships without further formality all
merchandise proceeding to Germany,
as well as all merchandise coming
from Germany. even when neutral
property. Just as II was also with
the Beers. the German people is now
to be given the choice of .perishing
from starvation with Its women and
children or of reiinquishing it's inde-
pendence.
while our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaimed without mercy
our utter destruction, We were
conducting war In self-defense for
our national existence and for the
sake of peace OF an assured perma-
nency. We have been Obliged to
adopt a submarine warfare to meet
the declared intentions of our enc
mics and the methods of warfare
adopted by them in contravention of
International law. ....o
with all its efforts in principle
to protect neutral life and property
from damage as much as possible
the German government recognized
unreservedly In It's memorandum OF
February that the interests of neu-
trails might suffer from the submarine
warfare. However, the American
government will also understand and
appreciate that In the fight for ex-
istence which has been forced upon
Germany by its adyersaries and an
nounced by them 1t is the sacred dut,
or the Imperial government to do ali
within It's power to protect and save
the lives Of German subjects. II the
government were derelict II.
these. Its duties. IL would be guilt,
before God and history Of the viola.
ton of those principles Of highest
which are the foundation
Of every national existence.
THE case of the Lusitania show.
with horrible elearness to what
jeopardIzing OF human lives the man \
ner OF conducting war employed 10y
our adversaries leads. In the mos
direct contradiction OF international
law. all distinctions between mer-
chantmen and war vessels have been
by the order to British
to arm themselves and
to ram submarines. and >the promise
Of rewards therefor. and neutrals who
use merchantmen as travellers there
by have been exposed In an increas-
ing degree to all the dangers of war.
III the commander Of the German
which destroyed the Lusi-
tania had caused the crew and pas
sengers to take to the boats before
firing torpedo this would have
meant the sure destruction of his
own vessel. After the experiences In
sinking much smaller and less sea-
worthy vessels. 1t was to be expected
that a mighty ship like the Lusi-
tania would remain above water long
enough even after the torpedoing to
permit passengers to enter the ships
boats. Circumstances OF very
peculiar kind. especially the pres
ence on board OF large quantities of
highly explosive materials (word
omitted possibly "dissipated') this
expectation. In addition 1t may be
pointed out that II the Lusitania had
been spared thousand Of cases of
munitions would have been sent to
Germany's enemies and thereby thou
sands OF German mothers and chill
dren robbed of breadwinners.
'In the spirit Of friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm
bued towards the Union and It's inhab-
itants since the earliest days of its ex-
istence. the imperial government will
always be ready to do all 1t can during
the present war also to prevent the
jeopardizing of lives OF American citi-
zens. The imperial government there
fore repeats the assurances that Amer
lean ships will not be hindered in the
.N.D - Il. 4.