The Washington times., 1915-05-04
THE GULFLIOHT AFFAIR

Gulflight was carrying
of war when she was
sunk off the Scilly Islands, that fact
Is entirely unimportant, even imma-
terial, if it be true that she was
torpedoed without notice and without
of the facts. The right
Of a belligersnt warship to dispose
Of contraband cargo in this way, in
case it is not possible to send the
ship under a prize crew into a home
port of the belligerent, is very diff
ferent thing from sending ship to
the bottom, not knowing her char
acter, cargo, or anything else about
her.
In the case of the Gulfight, the
facts were entirely different from
those in the case of the William P.
Frye. The Frye was stopped and
searched. Her papers were examined.
1t was found that she was carrying
wheat to a British port. The wheat
being at least conditional contra
band, the German commander tried
to get it shoveled into the ocean; but
that was impracticable because it re-
quired too much time, and there was
danger of a British cruiser coming
along and sinking the Eitel. So the
Frye's crew were taken off, with all
her papers and business affairs, and
then she was sunk.
This proceeding was altogether
different from torpedoing ship
without notice or warning. No
matter if she was carrying CONTRA
band, the German commander could
not know it. He simply indulged the
assumption that any American ves-
sci in those waters was proper sub
ject for German assault. This is a
doctrine which the United States
has never admitted, and one that no
civilized power has ever assumed.
Less vicious attacks on the self-re-
spect of the American people and on
the rights Of the American flag at
sea have caused war. The perform
ance of the German submarine-if
that performance has been correctly
reported-was both piracy and muir
der.
1t must be kept clearly in mind
that dealings in contraband of wal
are not criminal. No moral obloquy
attaches to blockade running-even
when a real blockade has been es-
tablished. It is a risky business; but
it is not immoral. The neutral peo'
pie engaged in it are not liable tc
punishment if captured by bellig
erent. The whole purpose of tn.
blockade is to prevent property be
ing placed at the disposal Of th'
enemy; and the blockader's right
end with the seizure, if necessary tn
destruction, of the property. He ha
no business destroying life. 1t Il
the life of people who are commit
ting no crime.
The German course in this cas-
cannot conceivably be defended b!
the Berlin government, or permitted
by Washington, unless Berlin is tt
assert, and Washington to admit
that any American ship, anywhere
is a proper victim for any German
war vessel. There is only one pos
sible defense for Germany's action
the fiat apowal that, as the Unite
States sells supplies to Germany
enemies, Germany proposes to de
stroy American ships and lives unit
the United States is terrorized int
stopping it. On that propositio
alone can Germany sustain the pre-
ceeding of her submarine commander
That proposition is nothing les
than a defiance of the United States
it is daring this country to declar
war; it is branding this country a
hopelessly pusillanimous if it doe
not declare war.
Germany will not 60 to that e>
tent. There will be some sort of dis
avowal, and reparation, as in tn
Frye case there was reparation. Th
only possible alternative to this mus
be that Germany is deliberately d.
termined to nag the United State
into war.
OF the nagging, there is no longe
room for doubt; Of the purpose I
carry it to the extent of forcin
war, there must be doubt unles
it shall be assumed that the Berli
government has become bereft {
reason.