The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-02
Berlin or Washington?

The German theory for the defence
Of the indefensible Is outlined In tho
remarks of the Ingenious DR.. DERN-
BURG and echoed in half dozen COM
munications, signed and anonymous,
which THE sun has the honor OF az
knowledging this morning. DIR. DERN-
BURG is reported as saying
at is ridiculous to call murder or
piracy the death OF people who unnec-
essarily get in between the fighting lines
in a war;
In the same spirit correspondent
In Newark says:
'Tf ships must move into the danger
zone, then let them sink. Drowning rs
not more merciless than starving. Eng
land gives no mercy and deserves none.
And those who defy the peril deserve
none either. Neither England nor Ger
many will permit herself to be starved
or crushed in the name OF courtesy
War is war and the deadlier 1t Is the
sooner 1t will be over
A second correspondent puts the
matter this way:
Two months notice would seem 10 be
quite sufficient to non-combatants and
neutrals that II they took passage on an
enemy's liner they did so at their own
risk. Germany Is holding up and de-
stroying Engands commerce By sub
marine warfare, and Germany explicitly
stated in her war zone decree that 1t
would be unsafe for any or all vessels
10 penetrate certain territory. AZ such
vessels would be destroyed. capture not
being possible with submarines. No.
body will regret the loss of life more
than Germany. but when you so coun
ter to the law nobody should cry II they
are hurt"
There Is another phrase expressing
what DR.. DERNBURG calls getting in
unnecessarily between the fighting
lines in war"
that which our correspondent de-
scribes as two months notice TO non
combatants and neutrals that II they
took passage on an enemy's liner they
did so at their own risk"
With regard to the case in question
there is other law than that which
Germany explicitly stated in her
war zone decree"
On February 10. eight days before
the German Government began ac'
tualIy to enforce its previous de
cree" warning neutrals of the high
seas, the Government of the United
States communicated to Berlin the
definition. the warning and the state"
ment of law to which we have just
referred.
The definition of what Or, DrRN'
BURG styles unnecessarily getting IN
between the fighting lines in war.
as revised by our Government in its
note of February 10, becomes the full
enjoyment of acknowledged rights on
the high seas"
The counter warning to Germany''
two months notice TO neutrals thai
they will exercise at their peril theil
acknowledged rights on the high seas
was contained in the notification e
the German Government that the
United States Government purpose,
to hold it TO strict accountability fol
such acts of their naval authorities
and to take any steps 1t might b'
necessary TO take TO safeguard .\meri
can lives and property aud to secure
to American citizens the full enjoy
ment of their acknowledged rights OF
the high seas
1t is proper that the American def
milton of neutral rights on the higl
seas, the American warning as to on.
intention TO secure for the neutral'
Of this country their rights on TIT
high seas, and the American inter
pretation of the laws of ncutralit,
in civilized warfare, should be pu
sguarcly against the German thcor,
as outlined by DR., BERNHARD DrRN
BURG and those of our German Amer
lean friends wi echo his haSly an,
not altogether il iicial sentiments.