Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-06-24
WOULD AVOID TROUBLE
Suppression of the Deutsche Tages
Regarded as Significant. !


of the Deutsche Tages Zeitung fol
aggravating the American situation
is considered of the greatest interna
tional significance. It is generally
believed that the drastic action talk.
en- in regard to the Tages Zeiture
means continuance OF the Kaiser
policy of avoiding unnecessary comp
! lications with neutral powers, espec,
tally the United States. A promln
ent statesman of the Wilhelmstrasss
| is quoted as saying:
"The motive underlying the sup
preston of the Tages Zeitung is the
German Governments honest desire
to consider American interests fair
W. without abandoning their own
rightful privileges. Several news
papers have persevered in handicap
ming the Governments peaceful en-,
deavors The Tages Zeitung has
been especially vindictive, and since
the Lusitania sinking it has persist
ed in aggravating the difficult Ger
man-American situation.
..The suppression, however, mus'
not be interpreted by Americans as
Indicating the abandonment OF SUBJ
~ fr7Ny
marine warfare by the German 1o'-
eminent. 1t was aimed solely at pre-
venting excesses by newspapers
whether conservative or radical, tena-
ing to increase the complications
The time and extent of the suppress
s;ons are uncertain, but the punish
ment must be considered as "a warn
ing to all trouble-making newspapers,
"WhiIe the Government has beer
ANXIOUS in good faith to continue the
necotiations with the United States
for mutually satisfactory settle
ment without receding from polcs
which will enable US to retain our
sclf-respect and at the same time
without losing sight of the object OF
the war, these newspapers nave uiS-
credited Germany's statesmen ana
have denounced them as splneIess
o,1.;rys anxious to discontinue sub
marine warfare.
"The American Government seems
r. overlook the fact that. new wal
in rs+r,,nents demand the applying OF
NOW legal rules. as was done at the
latest Hague congress in referencf
to aeroplanes. Germany cannot ''S
oo,,t;nue submarine warfare without
abandoning her most important WEI"
pom. 1. mn
"It is not our intention to hurt uh-
necessarily the feelings OF any heu,
tr,1 nation. but we will not permit
onvbodv to interfere with our sub
,,or;ne operations. We do not IN
fond TO torpedo neutral vessels. II
any such case has happened u wa
dine to a mistake on our part lo'
which we will atone, or.it was the
f,u,t of the vessel in trying to eS'
cane in flying false colors or IN no'
properly displaying neutral s'ngalS'
/" We do not sink neutrals tor 1un ,
we are sorry for every mistake on'
we would consider it a favor II "eu,
trails would get out of our way anu
thus avoid getting hurt by accident
Gwen English merchant vessels are
torpedoed only in cases OF aoSo'0'e
necessity. No American will deny
us our ,rightful privilege of SINKING
vessels carrying ammunition liable to
DESTROY thousands of German lives
an the meantime, until thei hu'st'-
MIA investigation is concluded the
newspapers must carefully refrain
from aggravating the situation.
"Tbis is the principal object ana
the significance of the suppression OF
tho Tages Zeitung."