The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-07-15

to Germany, as we'll as all merchan'
disc coming from Germany, even
when neutral property. Just as it was
also with the Beers the German peo-
pie is now to be given the choice OF
perishing from starvation with its
women and children or of relinquish,
ing its independence. g.
! HWhile our enemies thus loudly
and openly proclaimed conducting
war in self defense for our national
existence and for the sake of peace
! of an assured permanency. We have
been Obliged to adopt submarine
warfare to meet the declared inten-
tons of our enemies and the methods
OF warfare adopted by them in contra
yention of international law. w..
| .-.. Must Protect Own. .
With all its efforts in principle to
protect the neutral life and prop
erty from damage as much as pos.
sible, the German government Teeog-
nizei unreserVedly in its memorand-
um of Feb. T. that the interests of
neutrals might suffer from the sub.
marine warfare. However, the Amer
lean government will also under.
stand and appreciate that in the fight
for existence which has been forced
upon Germany by its adversaries
and announced by them, it is the sac
red duty of the imperial government
to do all within its power to protect
and save the lives of German sub
jects. If the imperial government
We're derelict in these duties, it would
be guilty before God and history OF
the violation of those principles Of
highest humanity which are the
foundation of every national exist.
ence.
THE cases of the Lusitania shows
with horrible clearness to What jeop.
lardizihg of human lives the manner
Iof conducting war employed by our
anniversaries leads. In the most direct
contradiction OF international law,
Iall distinction between merchant
men and war vessels have been OBJ
liberated by the order to British mer-
Ichantmen to arm themselves and
to ram submarines, and the promise
of rewards, therefore, and neutrals
who use merchantmen as travellers
thereby have been exposed in an in.
Ecreasing degree to all the dangers of
war ". IS ~. "a - D. - ~
IF the commander of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lusi!
tania had caused the crew and pas.
sengers to take to the boats before
firing 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 mighty ship like the Lusitania
would remain above the water long
enough even after the torpedoing to
permit passengers to enter the ships
boats. =" Z" r.. - ~ '-. %. 49,,
- circumstances of a very peculiar
kind, especially the presence on the
board of large quantities of highly ex-.
pIosive materials T(word omitted. pos
sibly 'dissipatet'l this expectation
In addition-B may be pointed out that
If the Lusitahia had been spared
thousands Of cases of munitions
would have been sent to Gerlnanys
German mothers and children robbed
of breadwinners.
viii Not Hinder Americans.
I'm the spirit of friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm
bued towards the union and its in
habitalts since the earliest days of
its existence, the imperial govern
ment will always be ready to do all it
can during the present war also to
prevent the jeopardizing of lives of
American citizens The imperial gov
eminent, therefore, repeats the as
surances that American ships will
not be hindered in the prosecution Of
legitimate shipping and the lives of
American citizens in neutral vessels
shall not be placed in jeoiardy.
in order to exclude any unfore.
seen dangers to American passenger
steamers, made possible in view of
the conduct of maritime war by Ger
adversaries, German subma-
rines will be instructed to permit the
free and safe passage of such passen-
ger steamers when made recognizable
by special markings and notified al
reasonable time in advance. The i'm
periaI government, however, conf
IDENTIFY hopes that the American gov.
eminent will assume to guarantee 4
that these vessels have no contraband
on board, details OF arrangement for
the uhhampered passage Of these yes.
sells to be agreed upon by the naval
authorities of both sides. .'' '
Offers Ships. o., -"
"1n order to furnish adequate ia
cilities for travel across the Atlantic
for American citizens, the German
government submits for consideration
a proposal to increase the number off
available steamers by installing ini
passenger service a reasonable num-
Der of neutral steamers under the |
American flag, the exact number to be |
agreed upon under the same condi. |
ton as the above mentioned Ameri- |
can steamers.
1.-The imperial government believes
t can assume that in this manner
adequate facilities for travel across |
he Atlantic ocean can be afforded
American citizens. There would, |
therefore, appear to be, no compelling
necessity for American citizens to
.rayel to Europe in time Of, war on
ships carrying AIN enemy's flag. I'M
the imperial government is
Unable to admit that American citi- 1
.ens can protect an enemy's ship
through the mere fact of their pres
,nce on board, I
Followed England's Example. /
Germany merely followed Eng
and's example when SHE declared
,art of the high sea an area of war.
fOn anIlpnflv apPidant cllffarad h,ll