Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-08-21
SINKING OF
THE ARABIC.

There is naturally iSHaIioi
throughout the United States at the
torpedoing of the White Sar steamer
Arabic at time when this country
was awaiting reply from Germany
to it's protest against this cruel mode
Of warfare. Americans were on this
Inflated steamer and some may nave
lost their lives. But that this country
should 90 off half-cocked, as some
seem to think it should, is question:
able Early reports of the disaster
oro 70 he taken with allowance, ana
not until all the facts in the case nave
beon learned will it be in order to take
drastic action. The captain OF the
Arabic is quoted as saying he did not
600 the submarine before he Desired
the torpedo coming on its deadly er-
rand A member of the German EN-
bassv in this country makes the posi-
tive assertion that the Arabic was at
+omntinr to run away when the mis-
clio was discharged from the suoma
80 This Is a matter which must be
Strengthened out before any ac'io'' e''''
be taken. 80, ..-
While the Gazette views with nor
ror the wanton destruction Oh i've
and property by the desperate leu
tons, who are restricted to submarine
warfare while their men-of-"ar .'e
ron+ safe in the Kiel Canal and I'M
nrernable ports, while other are
Guarded by the United States ouf,"s
+be;r internment, it is suggested ina,
tbere are two sides to all issues anu
we had better act on the MAXIM aue'
alteram partem. =,
The Baltimore American which h''''
always upheld President wilson y, -
tho several crises through which TINS
country has heretofore passed during
disnutes with Germany, says:
A. the time of the sinking OF the
1usitania the crime was scored III
the severe language that 1t deserved
:. +hesa columns. But the failure o.
the American State Department TO Is
suo warning that Americans sailms
,,no, sh;ns of belligerent were ttlN-
;np grave risks that rnenaceo ';'
naace of the nation was deploreu.
l. was urged that such warning !e'
no issued. This was not with a view
70 obsolving the Germans from az
countability for their acts OF desecr" =. i.
t;on Of human rights and violation Oh
tho laws of nations. The suggestion
was advanced in the interest Oh inc
r,tion,s peace and for the protectioh
of norsons who. in the absence OF such
authoritative warning, might assume
that the measure of risk was rot
,,rro An American citizen has Tie
&C. ,.;oht of the seas, as much as
though there were no wal Pro'i'e''
+b.+ no shall sail under the cono'-
t;o,s that the laws of nations permit.
The security of American llves Is 'hc
basic fact of American sovereigH'!
.,d assault upon such is something
hot under the conditions Of the SINK
;,c Of the Lusitania finds no WAL
,.n+ whatever in civilized warfare o.
~ tho laws that govern civilized ma
toms Loss of American lives uPo.'
Tho Arabic comes under the same cat
egory. H.
This much said, and it cannot be
said too vigorously. there is another
side to the question. That is the ma
+pre of the action Of Americans VINO
DESPITE the fact that a mad dog lies
in the path of the ocean liners ma
convey them through the war zone
nevertheless are ready to take the
,isls of the rabid animal. Anyon;
who would deliberately go into SucO
danger appears 10 De an u'i'''i .'''.'0
fool. When it is borne in mind that
those who court such penis at '"'
same time bring their country 'nle
jeopardy and thus indirectly lmperli
the lives of many Americans through
the war that may ensue, those per
sons are revealed unpatriotlc, un-Am
erican. They are without the guld'n:
and governing sense of responsloli'
itv that should control them, For
without yielding one iota to the ne
farious methods of submarine war
fare that in note after not OF the
American President have been ar
raigned for the condemnation OF man
kid. the fact still remains that there
is an obligation resting upon those
who insist upon exercising then
rights without concern for the rights
Of their fellow americans.