The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-02-24

and TO secure TO American citi-
zens the full enjoyment Of their
ACKNOWLEDGED rights on the
high seas.
II Is safe 20 assume that his
warning will not b. disrt garded
snd that tine "recklessnesg with
which the German plans are to
be executed will stop short OF the
torpedoing OF American ships. II
might be q wise precaution. how
ever. Tor the German government
To guard against the possibility of
such an accident" by promul-
eating a decree announcing that.
II an American vessel should b.
destroyed. the officer performing
the exploit shall be decorated with
the Iron Cross for his courage
and summarily hanged for his
recklessness.
IL Is TO the credit OF German
candor that no attempt is made
by the Imperial government TO
justify its procedure on the
grounds OF international law. n
does not pretend. as some of its
apologists are doing. that the war
zone instituted by il is in effect
a blockade. Such a position is
clearly ~untenable. For in inter-
national law a blockade is a
blockade-not a physiological
condition. not a reign of terror.
but an actual investment OF the
enemy's ports with a force main
tanned continuously at a strength
sufficient tc turn back neutral
commerce; and the right of the
blockadtns force Is TO turn back.
not to destroy. the commerce
which IL aims to prevent.
But the worst aspect OF the
blood and iron" policy upon
which Germany has entered il not
the disregard OF neutral rights
indefensible rs this is-but the
cynical violation of public rights
In the destruction Of ships. wheth-
er neutral or belligerent. with
their crews and passengers: for
this-not to mince matters-is
neither more nor less than piracy.
Nothing Is better established in
international law than the prin-
ciple that. where the e~xigencies OF
naval warfare require the destruc-
ton, instead OF the capture OF an
enemy merchant vessel, The cap
tor is bound to provide for the
safety OF all persons on board"
To act in disregard OF this hui
name principle is a plain rever-
sion to barbarism which no exig-
ency can excuse. and which is
bound to react disastrously on any
nation which practices IL.
Is IL necessary to remind Great
Britain that the application Of
the lex talionis can no more be
tolerated from her than from her
enemy One wrong begets an
other. but does o excuse Il. II
IL Is settled law that an enemy
merchant ship shall not be de
stroyed without first securing the
safety Of the persons on board.
II Is equally well settled in the
laws Of nations that foodstuffs
and other innocent goods intended
for the civil population OF a bel
ligerent State shall have free
passage I'm neutral ships. For
Great Britain TO coniscate the
cargo OF the Wilhelmina, II the
fact IL established that the goods
are not for the use OF the military
or naval forces of Germany. or 10
declare all foodstufs intended for
Germany contraband OF war.
would be Al high-handed. n not
as savage. a proceeding as that
Of Germany in waglng her war on
British and neutral commerce.
II Is 10 be hoped that u gov
eminent will notify Great Britain.
as We have notified Germany,
that We shall tolerate no infringe
ment OF the acknowledged rights
OF American ships on the high
seas. hat we stand for and will
maintain the public right which
this war has done so much 20 i'm
pair.
GEORGE W. KIRCHwEY.