The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-02-06
Member Of the Associated Press.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1915.
THE ARGUMENT OF HUMANITY


1t might seem as if Germany were
deaf to the argument Of humanity in
pursuit of victory. The inhumanity
demonstrated to have occurred shows
how much the finer parts of human
nature are disregarded. At the same
time Germany wants desperately to
Justify herself at the bar of eiviliza-
ton. Hence, in considering how far
the recent attacks by a German sub
marine upon shipping in the Irish sea
may be preliminary to a general de-
struction of commerce, there is much
pertinence in the question of the HUI
manitarian bearing of the case.
In the Philadelphia Bulletin there
is a discussion which touches universal
principles and shows that Germany
cannot attack merchant vessels gen
orally without becoming, in effect, a
common enemy to mankind. The ar
ticle says:
VIII the German submarines op-
| Grating in the Irish sea he content
with the destruction of the lesser
freighters plying between English and
Irish ports or bringing eargoes to Liv-
erpool from continental shippers, or
are they lying in wait for some first
class prize like an American liner
! Ever since the loss of the Audacious
gave the first intimation that the sub
marines from CuXhavep had circled
the north coast of Scotland, the posi-
biIitv of the transatlantic pathway as
objective of attack has been recog-
uized and fears inspired which have
been confirmed by succeeding events
and particularly by the coincidence on
Saturday of the departure of the Lusi-
tania from New York and the sinking
Of British merchantmen in the very
course which she, as well as other
ships, win pass in Il day or two in
making for Liverpool.
- In the role Of - commerce-destrov
er there is little question that the T.
n would be as effective against the
Cunarder as against a tramp freight
er. Steaming under the British flag
the big liners would be fair prey, anC
save for the fact that they undoubtedly
arc under convoy on their voyage
across the Atlantic they would be a!
liable to surprise and as helpless II
self-defense as the cargo boats thai
went down under the doom of German
torpcdoes last week.
But the submarines effectiveness
in naval warfare is limited to destruc
tive effort and even there is subjec
to handicap in dealing with the I'm
armed merchant vessel. For the un
written law Of humanity and civiliza
ton, though violated as it has been il
this war, would not permit thea ruth
less sinking Of a merchantmen, incapa
BILE Of resistance, without first talin;
off its crew or giving them Upper
: tunitv to save themselves. A cruise
: might do this, but a submarine cal
! render no such service The crews o
r the freighters sunk last week wer
given opportunity to leave in thei
boats and conditions of sea and win,
were such that this was possible. T
compel the officers and crew and tn
passenger list of the Lusitania to tax
such a chance, except under the mos
fortuitous conditions of the sea or 0
= nearness to land, would be an atrOcit
I scarcely less certain of cOndemnatio
by the whole civilized world tina
would be the sinking of the ship wit
} all on board.
\ ''WhiIe the possibilities of such a
, attack ON one of the big liners Nigh
seem to come within the practice G
the law of naval warfare, it involve
such a violation of the greater laws c
humanity that it hardly can be COZ
templated except it be that the sui
[ marines shall be attended by sue
auxiliaries as shall permit the savin
= of non-combatant lives. The captm
of one of these liners may reasonabl
r be regarded as an objective towal