The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-07-16

countries, have aimed from the yer
, beginning and with increasing lack o
consideration at the destruction no
so much of the armed forces as tn
life OF the German nation, repudiatin
in doing so all the rules OF interna
tional law and disregarding all right
of neutrals.
On Nov. 3, 1914, England delcareC
the North Sea a war area, and b.
planting poorly anchored mines ant
by the stoppage and capture of YES
sells, made passage extremely danger
Gus and difficult for neutral shipping
thereby actually blockading neutra
coasts and ports contrary to all in
ternational law. Long before the be
ginning of submarine war England
practically completely intercepted lie
gitimate neutral navigation to Ger
many also. Thus Germany was driven
to a submarine war on trade.
On Nov. II, 1914, the English Pre-
mier declared in the House of Com
mons that it was one of England's s
proncipal tasks to prevent food for
the German population from reaching
Germany via neutral ports. Since
March / England has been taking
from neutral ships without further for
mality all merchandise proceeding to
Germany, as well as all merchandise
coming from Germany. even when
neutral property. Just as it was also
with the Beers, the German people
is now to be given the choice Of per.
ishing from starvation with its women
and children or OF relinquishing it's
independence.
While our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaimed war without mercy
until our utter destruction, we were
conducting a war in self-defense for
our national existence and for the
sake Of peace Of an assured permanen-
cy. We have been obliged to adopt
submarine warfare to meet the de-
clared intentions of our enemies and
the method Of warfare adopted by
them in contravention of international
law.
With all its efforts in principle to
protect neutral life and property from
damage as much as possible. the Ger
man Government recognized unreserv-
edly In it's memorandum of Feb. 4
that the interests of neutrals might
suffer from the submarine warfare.
However, the American Government
will also understand and appreciate
that in the fight for existence, which
has been forced upon Germany by its
adversaries and announced by them, II
IL the sacred duty of the Imperial Gov
ernment to do all with its power to
protect and save the lives of Ger
man subjects. II the Imperial Govern
ment were derelict In these its du-
ties, It would be guilty before God
and history OF the violation of those
principles of highest humanity which
are the foundation of every national
existence.
The case Of the Lusitania shows
with horrible clearness to what jeo-
pardizing of human lives the manner
of conducting war employed by our
adversaries leads. In the most direct
contradiction of international law all
distinctions between merchantmen
and war vessels have been obliterated
by the order to British merchantmen
TO arm themselves and to ram sub.
marines, and the promise of rewards
therefor, and neutrals who use mer-
chantmen as travellers thereby have
been exposed in an increasing degree
to all the dangers Of war.
II the Commander of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lusi.
tania had caused the crew and pas
sengers to take to the boats before
frins~a torpedo this would have
meant the sure destruction OF his
own vessel. After the experiences
in sinking much smaller and less sea-
worthy vessels It was to be expected
that a mighty ship like the Lusitania
would remain above water long
enough. even after the torpedoing. to
permit passengers to enter the ships
boats. Circumstances of a very pc.
culiar kind. especially the presence
on board of large quantities of highly
explosive materials defeated this ex.
pectation.
In addition II may be pointed out
that II the Lusitania had been spared.
thousands of eases of munitions would