The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-01
THE GERMAN REPLY.

| Germany's reply to President Will
sons Lusitania note falls far short of
being anything definite in the way or
an answer to it. Rather is it an ex-
PLANTATION or an excuse for sinking the
ship and sending the bulk of its super
cargo of passengers to a watery grave
And it is an argument to sustain the
tenability of the German position in
the premises. For this reason the
German reply is most unsatisfactory
in a large measure; and only accept
able in that it indicates desire on the
part of Germany to continue friendly
relations with the United States. There
is nothing of a none-of-your-busines
tone TO the reply that divers prophets
have urged there would be There is no
defiance of the United States that
some seemed to think would be GER
tain. Indeed, the reply is in no sense
a final one, as Germany suggests that
there should be further Investigations
by both sides to the controversy before
such a reply is made. Germany bases
this suggestion on her assertions that
the Lusitania was an armed vessel,
with cannon concealed under the
decks and expert gunners on board to
serve them, and that the ship was reg
istered in the British navy as an aux
iIiary cruiser If these charges are
true, the sinking of the Lusitania
takes on a different phase, and Great
Britain becomes guilty of treachery
and the crime of the slaughter of in
nocent passengers by permitting them
to make voyage on such ship. How
ever, both the British admiralty and
the owners of the Lusitania declare
emphatically that she was not armed
AT any rate, it would seem no more
than fair to Germany that the invest1-
g-tion she suggests should be made
before she is asked for a final def
mite answer to our proposals and de-
mands. But, in the meantime, what
does Germany propose to do? Are
the lives of Americans who have oc-
casion to travel in the submarine war
zone still to be jeopardized? Are
American merchantmen like the Ne
braskan and the Gulflight, not only
unarmed but strictly neutral vessels,
to be treated by the German subma-
rines with the same ruthless savagery
that they accord to merchant ships of
the enemy? Is Germany of mind to
argue and Investigate the sinking of
the Lusitania for months or until the
end of the war and do what she
pleases with American travellers on the !
seas and American merchant ships |
ad interim? Such possibilities will
probably not be tolerated by Uncle
Sam. Certainly, they shouldn't be. I
And Germany's attempted justification
of her right to sink merchantmen of
the enemy which carry munitions of
war, irrespective of the passengers /
they may have, is merely personal
idea, rule that Germany has made
for herself and alone. 1t is entirely
contrary to the letter and the spirit of
the rules of war and international law
that have heretofore been observed
by all nations and which
are even now being observed by every
nation participating in the Great War
with the exception of Germany. Ger
many has a right to sink such ships
only after she has searched them, es-
tablished their guilt, and transferred
their passengers and crews to places
Of safety. If such decorum is not pos
sible in the waging of a submarine
warfare against merchantmen, then
such a use of submarines is not per-
niSSible.