New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-04
A Grave Issue with Germany,

A Grave Issue with Germany.
The torpedoing Of the Gulfight, ar
American oil. tank steamer, off the Scilly
Islands. raises the cloarcst and gravest
kind of an issue between the United States
and Germany. 1t marks the head-on col
hsion Of two opposing policies. 1t must
put 10 a decisive test the sincerity and
validity Of the German Admiraity's "war
zone" proclamation and the sincerity and
validity Of our counter notice that, so far
as American lives and vessels were con
cerned, Germany would pursue her pro
gramme Of terrorism at her own peril.
Which government, in efTecting a peace
full settlement Of the Gulfight case, is
going to eat its own words? Which policy
is to survive and dispace the other?
When the German Admiralty gave
notice that as an incident of its unlegal-
lied campaign OF destruction against
enemy merchantmen entering British,
Irish and Channel French ports it might
inadvertently or otherwise, torpedo neu-
tral ships and destroy the lives Of neutrals
our government replied that it would ex-
pect from Germany a faithful observance
Of the established rules Of international
law in the treatment of shipping encount-
cred inside the war zone" The State
Department said, in effect, that if Ameri-
can lives were lost through the torpe-
doing on sight Of allied merchantmen,
or American vessels, carrying contraband
were sunk instead Of being searched and
held for the action Of prize court, this
country would be constrained to hold the
imperial German government to strict
accountability for such acts of their naval
authorities and to take any steps it might
be necessary to take to safeguard Ameri-
can lives and to secure to American citi-
zens the full enjoyment of their acknOwl-
edged rights on the high seas"
The Gulnight was sunk and three of its
crew were sacrificed in pursuance OF
Germany's programme of checking neutral
trade with the unblockaded ports OF
Great Britain, Ireland and Northern
France. Dutch, Swedish and Norwegian
ships have been torpedoed for the same
purpose. This defiance Of neutral rights
has not been inadvertent; it has been
deliberate. If we now hold Germany
accountable for the outrage committed on
the Gulfight and the German government
consents TO make reparation. the procla-
nation of the German Admiralty becomes
practically suspended so far as the
United States is concerned. The Germans
have contended that they were within
their rights in threatening to sink neu-
trail vessels trayersing the war zone
If they now admit that they had no JUST
fication for sinking the Gulfight the whole
fabric of argument on which the "waI
zone" proclamation was based collapses.
Of course Germany may again make
use Of the ancient treaty of navigation anc
friendship between the United States anc
Prussia. Under that she must make com.
pensation to us whatever the character Of
the cargo carried by the Gulfight and
whatever the degree Of regularity claimed
10 have been observed in the destruction
of that vessel. The Berlin authorities
may try to treat the Gulhight case as only
a repetition of the Frye case.
But according to the reports so far re-
ceived the German submarine commander
did not attempt TO hold up the Gulfight
and pass upon the contraband character
of her cargo. He simply dispatched her
on faith, as the Dutch, Swedish and Nor
wegian vessels were dispatched. 1t will
therefore be extremely difficult to read
into the incident the same degree of regu-
larity as was alleged in the Frye con-
troversy. Unless the German Foreign
Office is unusually adroit, it will not be
able TO meet the just complaint Of the
United States without admitting the in
validity Of the war zone proclamation.
On our part there can be no retreat.
We are standing for the preservation of
our sovereignty on the high seas. We OPP
pose encroachments on neutral rights at
the convenience Of belligerents trying TO
enforce the doctrine that might makes
right. We are fighting the battle of
civilization and international law. We
must make good our pledge TO take any
steps which it may be necessary to take
10 protect American lives and property
from the illegal attacks Of belligerents.