The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-07-29
CONTENDS FOR FREEDOM
OF SEAS AT ANY COST
New Note to Germany is Considered the Last
Word from Washington Touching on
Submarine Attacks

cal alterations Of circumstances and
methods of attack produced by the
use OF instrumentalities OF naval war.
rare which the nations Of the world
cannot have had in view when the ex
listing rules of international law were
formulated, and 1t Is ready to make
every reasonable allowance for these
novel and unexpected aspects of war
at sea; but 1t cannot consent to abate
any essential or fundamental right or
Is people because of mere alera.
tion of circumstance. The rights OF
neutrals in time of war are based up{
on principle, not upon expediency,'
and the principles are immutable. 1t
is the duty and obligation OF belliger-
ents to, find way to adapt the, new
circumstances to them.
The events Of the past two months
nave clearly indicated that it is pos
SIDE and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have charac-
terlzed the activity Of the Imperial
German navy within the so-called war
zone in substantial accord with the
accepted practices Of regulated war
rare. The whole world has looked
with interest and increasing salts
faction at the demonstration of that
possibility by German naval command
ers. 1t is manifestly possible. there
lore to lift the whole practice of sub
marine attack above the criticism
which 1t has aroused and remove the
chief cause Of offense.
In view of the illegality made by
the Imperial government when it
pleaded the right of retaliation in de-
tense of its acts, and in view of the
manifest possibility Of conforming to
the established rules Of naval warfare
the government Of the United States
cannot believe that the Imperial Ger
man government will longer refrain
from disavowing the wanton act of it's
naval commander in sinking the L,usi-
tania or from Offering reparation for
the American lives lost, so far as repa-
ration can be made for needless de-
struction of human life by an illegal
act
The government Of the United
States while not Indifferent to the
friendly spirit in which it is made.
cannot accept the suggestion OF theS
imperial German government thak
certain vessels be designated ans
agreed upon which shall be free r
the seas now Illegally prescribed T&
very agreement would, by implicat hE
subject other vessels to illegal attHsEf
and would be curtailment and. t,&&
fore, an abandonment Of the rft@
pies for which this governmentEB
tends and which in times of c|M
counsels every nation would He%I6
as Of course. so
The government of ,sE 5
States and the Imperial I !. Ks
ernment are contending& 4 M
great object, have lonAY i. M
er IN urging the very3I + #S
which the governm98H j. s
States now solemnAEA u 4 MS
are both contendin1 !.
OF the seas. The d + &
United States wllV X .M
tend for that freedH r. M
quarter violated, wi X &s
and at any cost. ItS...,..,..,...,.'T
cal cooperation of I
man government atN-1@znaazz11a T
cooperation may acco1xa,PSsEvss
this great object be a ~
and effectively achieJ III
The Imperial German Ia
presses the hope that aNHS ~
De IN some measure accA Is
before the present war
De. The government ofl IL
states feels obliged to ina
by Whomsoever violated orC
the protection Of it's own cp =
1t Is also deeply interestedS n
1t made Dra TOO hIo
e'en's themselves, and holds
ready at any time to act as the co,,S-
mon friend who may be privileged to
suggest way.
In the meantime the very yalue
winch this government sets upon the
long and unbroken friendship between
the people and government of the TIni.
ted States and the people and govern
ment OF the German nation impels q IA
press very solemnly upon the Tmneria,
"eiinah government the necessity fo,.
scrupulous observance of neutr,,
iishts IN this critical matter. Frjand-
9hip ilsel1 prompts 1t to saw tn tho
:, hperiai government that repetition hv
the commanders OF German naval ,,o.
Sels OF acts in contravention of tbo.o
rights must be regarded bv tho oovo,,,
ineht or the United States when thew
hnect American citizens, as deliberate
ly unfriendly. T,AMeTMG a'o
States Position.
nlgn News and Observer-pres-
wilson states the position of the
! states as Americans would
MN. He speaks as the
CODED ranraoonko