The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-05-20
unlawful ACTS
CEASE AT ONCE
Presidents Strong Demand
Upon German Government
SINklNG OF THE LUSITAA|A

SInklN6 Uf Inc lUSlIANlA
The elimination OF Series Of Events
which Has Distressed and Amazed
United states-Righss OF American
Citizens Cannot Be Abbreviated
Sacred Principles Of Justice and Hu-
manlty Violated by Use OF subma.
rines Against Merchantmen
President Wilson's note 10 Germany
protesting against the loss Of Ameri-
can lives and violation OF American
rights on the sea as a result OF Ger
many's submarine warfare was pre-
sented By Ambassador Gerard TO the
German foreign office at Berlin.
The note demands that Germany end
her submarine warfare so far as
American lives and property are con-
cerned and contains this unmistak-
able threat OF action should the de-
mands go unheeded:
The imperial German government
viii not expect the government OF the
United States to omit any word or
any act necessary TO the performance
OF its sacred duty Of maintaining the
rights OF the United States and its
citizens and Of safeguarding their
free exercise and enjoyment"
The phase Of the note which is be-
iieved most likely TO create serious
tseue with the German government Is
that part in which the president states
that the entire submarine campaign
of Germany against its enemies COM
merce ships is Objectionable, Presi-
dent Wilson's note says:
The government OF the United
States, therefore. desires to call the
attention OF the imperial German gov
er,.ment with the utmost earnestness
20 the fact that the objection to their
present method OF attack against the
trade Of their enemies lies in the
practical impossibliity OF employing
submarines In the destruction of COM
merce without disregarding those
rules OF fairness, reason, justice ana
humanity, which all modern opinion
regards as imperative. II is pracu-
caIly impossible for the officers OF a
submarine TO visit a merchantman at
sea and examine her papers and car
20. II is practically impossible for
them TO make a prize OF her; ana,
II they cannot 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 is
understood the imperial German gov
ernment frankly admits. We are in
formed that in the instances OF which
We have spoken time enough Tor even
that poor measure OF safety was not
gwen, and in at least two of the
cases cited not so much as a warning
was received.
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.
The note begins with the following
statement.
I'm view OF recent acts OF the Ger
man authorities in violation OF Amer
fcan rights on the high seas which
eliminated in the torpedoing ana
sinking OF the British steamship Lusi-
tania on May Z. 1915, by which over
100 American citizens lost their lives,
II is clearly wise and desirable that
the government OF the United States
and the imperial German government
should come TO clear and full un-
derstanding as to the grave situation
which has resulted.
The sinking Of the British passen-
ger steamer Falaba by German sub
marine en- March 2s, through which
Lecn G. Thrasher, an American ciu-
,xen, was drowned the attack on
April 2s on the American vessel Cush-
ing by German aeroplane: the tor
pedoing on May OF the American
vessel Gultiight by a German subma-
rine. as result OF which two or more
American citizens met their death,
and. finally. the torpedoing and sink
ine of the steamship Lusltania. con-
stitute series OF events which the
government OF the United States has
observed with growing concern, dis
tross and amazement.