South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-08
VESSELS CARRYING
AMERICAN FLAG.

!
The torpedolng OF the steamship
Lusitanla while fIyin gthe Stars and
Stripes. even as a disguise. should
such prove TO have beer the case, this
on the heels OF the su5marine stack
recently made upon the American
merchantmen. GuIfhghl. presents TO
the United States a very intricate
question. and one which may require
the keenest diplomacy on the part OF
our national administration if we are
10 avoid entanglements with the Euro
pean war.
Britain has INDUCED in this pas
time twice before 10 the end of getting
past the Germans and we have no
sympathy for the Cunard steamship
Co. If the Germans. piercing the dis
guise. dealt IL the blow credited 10
them. we have right TO know. how
ever. that Germany did this torpedo
ing, knowing our flag was being used
as a disguise. and that it was not an
intended assault upon our neutrality.
such as must be regarded as the case
with respect 10 the sinking Of the Gull
flight There if Germany mistook the
Gulflight for "a British ship i'm Amer
lean disguise. il was her mistake and
she must answer for IT, The-more
British vessels flying the American
flag as a protectorate, sunkcn by the
Germans. and despite the Americans
ON board that take the chance. the
more we may like it, but Germany
needs first 20 make sure that they are
British ships.
For one nations warship To torpedo
another nations merchant vessel is
what international law terms IAN act
OF war" That is. it is a hostile act
which requires apology and repara-
ton if the two nations are TO continue
their friendly relations.
The policy of the United States with
regard 10 such matters was establish
ed definitely by PRIEST Wilson in his
reply TO the German war-zone procla-
nation OF Feb. 4. lie said:
If the commanders of German
vessels of war should act upon the
presumption that the flag of the
United States was not being used
in good faith, and should destroy
on the high seas an American yes
sells OF the ilNeS OF American GILL
zens. n would be difficult for the
government of the United States
10 view the act i'm other light than
as an indefensible violation of
neutral rights which il would be
very hard indeed TO reconcile with
the friendly relations now so hap
PLY existing between the two
governments
II such deplorabIe thing
should arise. the imperial German
government can readily appreCi-
ate that the government of the
United States would be coustraiu-
ed to hold the imperial German
government TO a strict aCcOunta-
bility of such acts of their naval
authorities, and take any steps
IL might be necessary TO take to
safeguard American lives and
property and 90 secure to Ameri-
can citizens the full enjoyment OF
their acknowledged rights on the
high seas
That declaration met the unanimous
approval OF the nation. IT represent
ed the nations will then. and repre-
sents it now The government can
no. retreat from the position taken,
and the people do not want it TO re-
retreat.
The non-combatant part OF the
world strongly desires peace beyond
all question The fighting part of the
world is fairly represented by that
conan delegate 20 The Hague confer
ence. flo declared that for every
English woman talking for peace there
are a thousand willing to accompany
their sons and husbands 10 the battle
field. Germany seems to be of much
the same mind.
Whatever the initial causes Of the
war. the purposes OF the combatants
are now clear. Vengeance, acquisi-
ton OF territory and additional power
are now the purposes. Justice and
high principles have been lost sight Of
For many years. France has been con-
sidered the natural" and chief en-
envy OF Germany. Today. Frances
feeling toward Germany is charitable
compared 10 the British hatred OF the
Teuton and that hatred is reCiprocated
in full intensity. 10 is not the hatred
of rulers but the hatred of peoples
and when the end comes. the world
will be shocked at the popular de-
mand for humiliation OF the van
pushed.
When one observes the open at
tempts 70 bride Italy and Greece, and
the misuse being made OF neutral col
ors 20 the danger OF neutral peoples
II is impossible 20 believe that justice
and principle have much standing as
reasons for fighting The blood lust
and the money-lust are at work
shoulder TO shoulder Peace or war
on any basis of Christian virtue or
brotherly principle have seemingly
lost all their charms with these peo-
pie. and II 90 gain another point. or
10 make IL appear more eNpedient TO
back down. more nations must be
drawn into the conflict. even through
the snapping out OF innocent lives