Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-15

eminent, 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 impossibility of employing sub.
marines in the destruction Of com
merce without disregarding those
rules of fairness, reason, justice and
humanity which all modern opinion
regards as imperative. 1t Is practical.
ly impossible for the officers of sub
marine to visit a merchantmen at sea
and examine her papers and cargo. II
is practically impossible for them to
make prize of her, and, If they can
not put a prize crew on board OF
her, they cannot sink her without
leaving her crew and all on board OF
her to the mercy of the sea In her
small boats. These facts 1t Ia under
stood the imperial German govern.
ment frankly admit. We are inform.
ed 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-
celved. Manifestly submarines cannot
be used against merchantmen, as the
last few weeks have shown, without
an inevitable violation Of many sacred
principles of justice and humanity.
American citizens act within their
indisputable rights in taking their
ships and in travelling wherever their
legitimate business calls them upon
the high seas, and exercise those
rights In what should be well-justified
confidence that their lives will not be
ENDANGERED by acts done in clear VIC
lation of universally acknowledged In.
ternational obligation, and certainly In
the confidence that their own govern
meut will sustain them In the exercise
of their rights.
There was recently published in
the newspapers OF the United States,
| regret to inform the imperial Ger.
man government, q formal warning
purporting to come from the imperial
German embassy at Washington, ad'
dressed to the people of the United
States and stating, in effect, that any
citizen Of the United States who ex.
ercised his right of free travel upon
the seas would do 80 at his peril If his
journey should take him within the
zone of waters within which the I'M
perial German navy was using sub
marines against the commerce OF
Great Britain and France, notwith
standing the respectful but very earn
est protest of his government, the gov
ernmant Of the United States. l dc
not refer to this for the purpose Of
calling the attention of the imperial
German government at this time to the
surprising irregularity of communica
ton from the imperial German EN-
bassy at Washington addressed to the
people Of the United States through
the newspapers, but only for the pur
pose Of pointing out that no warning
that an unlawful and inhumane act
would be committed can possibly be
accepted as an excuse or palliation fol
that act or as an abatement OF the
responsibility for it's commission.
Long acquainted as this govern
ment has been with the character Of
the imperial German government and
with the high principles of equity by
which they have in the past been act
uated and guided, the government o.
the United States cannot believe tina
the commanders Of the vessels which
committed these acts of lawlessness
did 50 except under a misapprehen
sion Of the orders issued by the I'M
perial German naval authorities. Il
takes 1t for granted that, at least
within the practical possibilities Of
every such case, the commanders
even OF submarines were expected to
do nothing that would involve the
lives of noncombatants or the safety
of neutral ships, even at the cost OF
failing of their object Of capture OF
destruction. 1t confidently expects
therefore, that the imperial German
government will disavow the acts Of
which the government of the United
i States complain, that they will make
reparation so far as reparation Is pos
sible for injuries which are without
measure, and that they will take I'm
mediate steps to prevent the recur
renee OF anything so obviously sub
versive of the principles OF warfare
for which the imperial German govern
mant have In the past so wisely anc
SO firmly commended.
"The government and people OF thu
United States look to the imperia
German government for just, promp
and enlightened action in this vita
matter with the greater confidence be
/ cause Luc OulLCO Ot0SCo uAN ~ AAAssN-S
are bound together not only by spec1a
ties of friendship but also by the OK
plicit stipulations of the treaty OF 1921
between the United States and thu
kingdom of Prussia.
Expressions of regret and offers O
reparation in case of the destruction o.
neutral ships sunk by mistake, while
they may satisfy international obliga
lions, if no loss Of life results, canno
Justify or excuse practice the natur
al and necessary effect of which Is t.
subject neutral nations and neutra
persons to new and immeasurabll
risks.
"The imperial German government
J will not expect the government OF the
| United States to omit any word or any
act necessary to the performance OF 1T
sacred duty of maintaining the right!
Of the United States and its citizens
and of safeguarding their free exercise
anu o BRYAN"
| RlISSELl