South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-08
WILSON'S POLICY INDICATED.
(Grand Rapids News. }

(Grand Rapids News.)
The wisdom Of Pres't wilson's force
full policy of UNFOLDING the rights Of
American shipping is becoming every
day more apparent What a few weeks
ago was looked upon as an imminent
danger of war, is now considered only
a diplomatic muss that will be settled
To the satisfaction of all concerned.
The president had the right end of the
argument and he exploited the rights
Of American shipping so vigorously
that our national dignity has been pre-
served and the friendship Of Germany
has been maintained. Halfway meas
ures would have been futile.
That Germany is yielding to the
presidents insistent contentious that
submarines should comply with the
rules of warfare on merchant vessels
is the conclusion which has been
reached by many administration OIL
Gals in Washington. The recent at
tack upon the British steamer Ar
menian, which carried many American
sailors, shows a change of tactics on
the part of German submarine COM
manders. The submarine attacking
the Armenian gave ample warning,
admits that he defed the right of the
submarine TO stop his vessel and
sought safety in flight. In this event
there is no cause for argument on the
part OF the American government and
none will be made.
The submarine fired two shots
across the bow Of the Armenian, but
the captain refused to stop his vessel
and submit 10 search. In the rejoin-
der 10y the imperial German govern
ment TO Pres't Wilson's first note the
following paragraph occurred:
The imperial government is un-
able to consider English merchant
vessels any longer as 'undefended
territory in the zone OF maritime war
designated by the admiralty staff of
the imperial German navy; the Ger
man commanders are consequently no
longer in a position TO observe the
rules of capture otherwise unusual
and with which they invariably COM
piled before this"
The presidents second note 10 Ger
many set forth so wildly the rules Of
maritime warfare that the German
submarines now give warning even TO
British vessels and demand the right
10 search before sending such vessels
10 the bottom.
How far Germany intends TO con-
form to the wishes OF Pres't Wilson
In the case OF submarine warfare Is
matter OF conjecture. IL is deemed
likely that the submarines could carry
out some satisfactory form of visit
and search. The captain OF the Ar
menian showed poor judgment IN re-
fusing 10 stop when warned 10 do so.
Under the circumstances there would
seem TO be little basis for complaint
concerning the behavior OF the sub
marine.
Karl II. Won Wiegand, the Ameri-
can correspondent I'm Berlin. is OF the
opinion that Germany's reply 10 PresO
Wilson's second note Will be a real
answer. Germany hopes that il Will
be satisfactory and thinks that II will
Germany has sincere desire 10 show
the American people that Germany Is
acting IN good faith and has a dispo-
siuon 10 meet Pres't Wilson's wishes
and protect Americans who cross the
Atlantic.
Kaiser Wilhelm. il is said, has
strong desire not 10 offend the Ameri-
can public. Among the chief points
under MS consideration are a willing
ness 70 negotiate 20 secure the safety
or Americans on the sea and a sug-
gesuon or proposal that this may be
arrived az with the cooperation OF the
American government Another g
the acceptance OF Pres't Wilson's offer
10 mediate with Great Britain for
relaxation Of the blockade. but with
out oHering any suggestions. n view
OF the fact that Germany's suggestions