The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-11
WAR ECHOES

Pittsburg Sun: To add to the diplomatic complications that exist between this country and the European belligerents comes Germany's latest declaration on the Faaba case, the sinking of which re- suited in the death, among others, of Leon s. Thrasher an American. Germany maintains that it Is not responsible for the loss of any neutral lives on board the British vessel. The reason advanced is that England has directed all it's merchant vessels to arm with guns of sufficient power to sin'l a submarine, and that it has gone farther than that and offers cash prizes for any merchant ship that will ram a submarine. This, Germany claims, puts all English merchant vessels in the category of warships, and there fore legitimate prey to the German ves- sells.
 If this claim be allowed to stand the eff feet on transoceanic travel will be pro- nounced The remarkable radius of ac- ton of these German submarines has proved a surprise to all countries that have given naval construction thought and have experimented along the lines of sustained submergence and long voyages. The submarine has put a complexion on the war that no one except perhaps Ger many dreamed was possible. The activ- ity and the wide range of action have virtually abrograted many of the hereto fore recognized and accepted rules of naval warfare.
 If the German attitude that an armed merchant ship flying the flag of a belliger- ent enemy is entitled to no more consid- eration than a cruiser or any other ship of war is to be concurred in by neutral nations, danger of travel is manifoldly in- creased. Germany is perhaps overlook
 ing an important matter, however, In ar bitrarily announcing it's position. A 'ner- chant ship may not arm itself with high power guns for the purpose of attack. but rather for protection, which is vastly diff ferent.
 Baltimore News: Day after day the Prinz Eite Friedrich has remained a source of annoyance and anxiety to the telegraph editor. From the newspaper standpoint a big story has ever been on the eve of breaking. GGman man-of- war lying in one of our own harbors, with the date of expiration of her leave kept hidden; and outside, hardly hull down on the horizon, a British fleet lying in wait for her. The setting is hard to equal. A fog-a snowstorm, perhaps, it was thought-would send her out. Or she would go out brazenly with flag flying, etc meet certain destruction for the pure bravado of meeting it and bulwarking the German nations pride in it's navys hero ism.
 But the thing was not to be. We recall that when Cervera's s fleet set sail for it's unknown destination-Cuba, perhaps, or New York-and finally took shelter in the harbor of Santiago, naval critic re- marked that two courses had been possi- be: one of new and important strategy, the other commonplace, and the common place had very sensibly been chosen. That fits the Eitel Friedrich's case ex- actly. Except under absolutely favoring conditions of night and fog, Thierichens, had he left his berth, would have gone to the purposeless loss of ship and crew. It would have been a brave act technically, practically only silly one.
 The ending is fortunate all round. Lives have been saved, the state department has been relieved of an embarra ssment a naval officer has demonstrated his wis., dom and the danger of future w. P. Fryes being sent to the bottom by over zealous sea-raiders has been reduced 50 per cent, or, indeed, if the reports of the Karlsruhes wreck are true. entirely lifted.