The Glenwood post., 1915-05-15


yond the ordinary methods of warfare
At sea, in the proclamation of war
zone from which they have warned
neutral ships to keep away. This gov
ernment has already taken occasion to
inform the Imperial German govern
ment that it cannot admit the adoption
of such measures or such q warning Of
danger to operate ss in any degree in
abbreviation of the rights of American
ship masters or of American citizens
bound on lawful errands Is passengers
on merchant ships of belligerent nation
atty; and that it must hold the I'M
perial German government to stric.
accountability for any infringement of
these rights, intentioaal or incidental.
1t does not understanl the Imperial
German government to question those
rights. It sassAss, - ths eoetrary,
tAa& ~ 1aVsslai 0spAea gsvsrss.sst
accept, ~ Of course, the rule that the
lives of oa-combatsnts, whether they
be or neutral citizenship or citizens of
any nations at war, cannot lawfully or
rightfully be put in jeopardy by the
capture or destruction of an unarmcd
merchantman, and recognizes also, rs
all other nations do, the obligation to
take the usual precaution Of visit and
search to ascertain whether suspected
merchantman is in fact Of belligerent
nationality or is in fact carrying con
traband Of war under neutral flag.
"The governneat Of the United
States, therefore, desires to call the at
tention Of the Imperial German govern
ment with the utmost earnestness to
the fact that the objection to their
present method Of attack against the
trade Of their enemies lies in the prac
teal inpossibility Of employing sub
marines in the destruction of commerce
without regarding those rules Of fair
ness, reason, justice and humanity,
which all modern opinion regards as
imperative. It is practically impossi-
BILE for the officers Of . submarine to
visit . merchantman at sea and exam
inc her papers and cargo. 1t is prac-
tically impossible for them to make
prize Of her, and If they cannot put
prize crew on board her, they cannot
sink her without leaving her crew and
all on board of her to the mercy of the
sea io her small boats. These facts, it
is understood, the Imperial German
government frankly admit. We are in
formed that in the instances of which
We have spoken, time enough for even
that poor measure Of safety was not
given, and in At least two of the cases
cited not SO much Is . warning was re-
ceived. Nanifestly submarines cannot
be used against merchantmeu, - the
last few weeks have shown, without An
inevitable violation Of many sacred
principles of justice and humanity.
"Ameriean citizens act within their
i.disputable rights in taking their
sAips aad in travelling wherever thei:
Legitimate business. calls then upon the
high seas, and exercise those rishts in
what should bs the well Justified conf
deaes that their lives will not Be en-
daAgsfsd BY sets done in elssr viofa-
tioa Il universally seknswlsdeed inter
natis.al seligatisa, certain in tie eea-
fidsacs that their eva govsfaneat will
sustain then L. the exercise sf their
rigAtA.
1ksFs Wss Fsosstiy psb,isAeA in tAs
nswsPepsss Of tAs United etatss, Re-
gFst = iafssn tAs InRssial 0essaas
gsvssansat,. . fssaal wasninG, pr
peetine . es0o AsuA ~ lnpseiAl Ger
- sasasav q WasAiaGesa, sa1ssaDs1
~ ~ pssPas - ~ Ualbsl s111sG>11e
soa11ag = S0ss4 ~ ~ sl11nsa e -