The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-05-13
United States Never Recognized
Germany'S Right to EStab-
IiSh "War Zones"
WILSON ISSUED WARNING
Berlin Contention That Law
Could Not Be Complied With
Offers No Excuse.
From The Tribune Rureau.)

Washington, D.. c., May 10.-While
Ieither the White House nor the state
department will give the least indica-
ton az to the contents of whatever
communication may be addressed to
Germany, ii is known that there Is alb
solutely no common ground for the
two nations.
Germany's ~CII;tention that she was
justified in destroying the L~usitania
as the merchant vessel Of a foreign foe,
and her attempted justification OF her
slaughter of noncombatants and neu-
trails by claiming she published warn
ings for them not to take passage on
the Lusitania, has no standing In the
eyes of this country or of the world,
say students OF The situation.
Never Recognized WAR Zone"
The differences date back to the time
in February when Germany declared
she proposed to establish what n
termed "a wal zone around the Brit
ish isles and warned all neutral nations
and noncombatants hat they entered
this Zone at their own peril. The United
States, in common with all neutral ma
tons, refused to accept this arbitrary
ruling OF Germany, which violated all
international law and precedent.
They agreed that Germany had a
right to establish a blockade of British
ports, but that the high seas were not
subject to being divided into war
zones" that they were neutral n
had always been, and that any
croachment upon the freedom. safety
and neutrality of the high seas where
by the lives and property of noncom-
batants were jeopardized, must be re-
garded as piracy and not warfare.
The United States held, In accord
with all international law and treaties,
that while Germany had the undouted
right to stop, capture and destroy any
merchant vessel belonging to Great
Britain or n other of her enemies,
she must. II she obeyed rules civilized
nations had established for protection
of humanity. a ample provision Tor
the safety Of the lives of any n all
non-Combatants on board II abso-
lutely safeguard the lives of any neu-
trails on board such vessels before they
were destroyed.
United States Warned Germany.
Germany replied tha II was physical
~ impossible for a submarine vessel TO
do this, whereupon the United States
merely reaffirmed its position and in
timated that If Germany could not
prosecute a humane and civilized war
fare with submarines II was up to Ger
many to select other mediums. At no
time did the United States ever con-
cede that Germany had the right to es-
tablish what h called a war ZOn
Or the right to sink any merchant or
passenger vessel without first pro-
viding for the safety of those on board.
All neutral nations sustained the Uni
ted States In thiD position.
With this fundamental difference
diplomatists believe there can be no eX-
PLANTATION Germany may offer that Will
justify her destruction of the pas
sengers. The advertisement inserted In
American newspapers by the imperial
Germany embassy warning Americans
not to sail on any passenger steamer
Of tine allies Is wholly beside the point.
1t relieves Germany of no responsibility
In the matter and 1t is said does not
act as a substitute for offering protec-
ton to those on board before the ship
was torpedoed.
The high seas are free and neutral.
Americans have a right to sail them on
any vessel other than an armed vessel
of a belligerent. To deny this right
would be making three-1fth of the
earth's surface a private fish pond.
Only pirates. recognizing no law OF
nations or rules OF war, refuse to guar
antees safety to noncombatant and
! neutral men. women and children found
on board an unarmed ship. In other
words, Germany. 1t is pointed out, had
no right to print such an advertise
ment.
Puts It Up to Germany.
All efforts, unofhcially, Of Germany
to make 1t appear hat the Lusitania
was armed and, therefore. not entitled
to the protection due a merchant YES
sci appears to be without any founda-
ton in fact. and also are a subterfuge
Of Germany's TO cscap the awful re-
spOnsibility of her living up to her
threats to make no distinction between
! war vessels and merchant vessels once
they were in her arbitrarily established
"War zone"