The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-13
The Warning Notes TO Great Britain
and Germany.

The complete text of the German
"war zone" notice, which was given
out at Berlin on February g, the day
the Lusi,ania flew the American fng
DIN the Irish Sea. constrained the
United States to warn the German
Government that it would be held ac-
countable for installing American for
enemy merchant ships and sinking
them In British waters The flying
OF the American flag by another Brit
ish passenger steamer, the Orluna, to
escape German warships. convinced
the United States Of the truth OF the
report that the Admiralty had in.
structed British merchant ship cap
tains to display the American dag for
protection, and there was no alterna-
tive but to lodge protest with the
British Government. 1t was no time
to wait for the publication Of more
official documents. A grave peril
threatened American ships, in spite Of
the fact that they had an unchal-
lenged right to sail the seas declared
by the German Admiralty to be an
"area OF war" Prompt action TO
avert that peril was imperative.
The tone OF the respective notes Is
admirable in its restraint and cour-
tesy, and the position taken in each
case Is una ssailable. If the language
used in the protest to Germany is
vigorously plain. 1t is none the less
a friendly admontion and warning.
rendered necessary by the vague and
sinister terms OF the German notice
that neutral ships entering the dan
ger zone might become victims OF
torpedoes directed against the enc
my's ships" The plea Of 1.-THE con
tingencles Of naval warfare" could no,
be admitted by a neutral nation rec
ognizing it's responsibilities to ship
ping legitimately under its flag and
traversing unblockaded trade routes.
The German Admiralty had to he
Judged by its dubious language, In
which lurked disclaimer Of respon'
sibility. 1t was provocative and could
not be passed over.
The United States in its note to the
German Government avails Itself OF
the opportunity to cite international
law bearing upon visit and search on
the high seas as timely reminder
that there can be no excuse for mis-
taking British ship, although she
show other colors than her own. fol
q neutral ship. The simple lessor
cuts the ground from under the false
position which Germany assumed
Logically the exposition led mp to al
emphatic warning that the Unite'
States would hold Germany to a "strlc
accountability" If her naval officer
were to destroy American ships an,
lives In the sO-cAlled "area of war.
Germany must govern herself accord
ingly. The firm and spirited stanc
of the United States will have tn,
approval of every man who calls him
self an American.
The case against England is sim
pier. What the United States object
to il "a general use Of the flag of tn
United States by British vessels a
n ruse, and particularly It objects t
any instructions or they have bee
given) to British ships to use tn
American colors to deceive the enemy
1t expects the British Government =
cancel any such instructions and {
restrain the practice by merchan
ships, pointing out that Great Britai
would incur "a measure of respons
bility' II the loss Of an American shl
and American lives followed It's fui
ure to heed the warning Of the Unite
States Government. As In the case d
Germany, Great Britain must cover
herself accordingly, The United STATE
Is strictly neutral.