The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1915-05-14
THE CASE OF THE "LuslrANA

We are not intending in this editorial
to argue in favor of or against either of
the warning natioEs. but we will try and
state the case at 1t seems to us fairly on
both sides as they appear from facts and
arguments, drawing no conclusions ex-
cept as to the final results.
First, it is we'll to understand that
that sinking of the "Lusitana" exasis to
be judged in two or more distinct phases.
First. as an act CT war and second as
an act of humanity.
Many people would reverse the order
IN which these propositions should be
considered.
As an act of war the Germans clam
that because the British sought to block.
ade Germany and thus starve them out
that it was only fair that they in their
turn should blockade the coasts of the
British Isles.
Under the laws of international custom
previous to this time, blockade to be
blockade had to enforced BY such num-
Der of ships that the blockade would be
effectual, otherwise it had no force as to
neutral nations. In the case of the
British, they had the ships with which
to prevent the carrying of contraband
goods to German ports-and they added
to the list Of contraband all food stuffs
which was at least questionable in inter-
national usage.
The Germans of course with their
feet tied up at Kiel had no such power
Of enforcement except through their sub
marines. Without this new sort Of ves-
sci declaration of blockade or of a .swar
zone" would have been only ridiculous.
But here is the hitch. This is the
first time il war that the submarine has
played any part. 1t makes many COM
plications heretofore unknown and un.
provided for
The question at once arises shall a
little underwater cradft carrying fifteen
to thirty men, have the power 10 "block.
ade" several thousand miles of coast?
Shall any nation possessing su bmarines
have the power to declare any particular
of the common sea, as a ''war zone' in
which neutral vessels shall inter at the
peril of being torpedoed without warn.
ing. and without regard to cargo, and
without regard to the lives and safety of
the crew and passengers?
This ls the doctrine of the proclama-
tion of Germany as to submarine war
fare and she has in numerous cases al
ready torpedoed and sunk large mum.
Der of neutral ships with considerable
loss of life of the non combatant, neutral
crews
We may add that so far the neutral
nations have only resisted this "inter-
national" laws of Germany and Britain
by vigorous verbal protests.
In the case of the "Lusitana" the
German claim is that she was British
vessel, that she was in the war zone, that
warning had been given that she was
liable to be destroyed, that she carried
munitions of war. etc. OF course il the
doctrine of the ''war zone" proclamation
is to be taken as law. then undoubtedly
the German submarine had perfect
right to sink the "Lustana" as le.
gitimate act of war.
Granting for the sake of the argument.
that the sinking of the "Lusitana" was a
legitimate act of war, let US consider the
act in the light of humanity.
The world at large gave it's verdict
instantly. 1t wa, "horrlble". Sober
second thought has not changed that
verdict. Nothing ever can. We can
conceive Of the pro- German excuslng the
act rs necessary act of war, that it's
awful consequences were incidental
rather than malicious, but we cannot
conceive of any sensiatle person, no mat.
ter how prejudiced. a. rejoicing over
this destruction of human life, and the
drowning of almost fifteen hundred in.
nocent men. women and children. There
is no possible argument for this awful
disaster from the view point of humanity.
On the other hand, allowing the sub.
marIne's terrible work to be Legitimate,
allowing for the possible terror injected
into trans Atlantic travel and Shipping
generally. allowing for the actual mono.