The Nome daily nugget., 1915-05-10

cial fleet becomes helpless, starving thing little fitted for offense. Germany this and knows also that every act which may hinder or destroy the com merce of her rival is a benefit to her self Thus it has come about that by way of retaliation for the blockade of her own shores by the British fleet Germany has instituted the now fam ous submarine blockade of the British Isles. after notifying the world of the extension of the war zone to embrace the waters adjacent to the British coasts It is manifest that in inau- gurating this course of procedure Germany was plainly not exceeding her rights as belligerent. but at the same time the enforcing of this measure while in perfect accord with the ac- cepted rules of war, tended to jeopar- dize the lives of many who could in no sense be accused of aiding or wishing submitted that having been forewarn ed of danger all such were assuming a personal liability when they ventured into the forbidden waters and such assertion is technically true. But, at the same time. the strict enforcement of the rule made Germany liable to a charge of the grossest nhumanitY if her vessels failed to give further warn ing to ships carrying neutrals or non combatants before completing their work of destruction While in the main the Germans apparently avoided directly endangering the lives of the messengers and crews of the numerous vessels which have fallen victims to ne Lusitania it appears that no warn in,- was given and the rending crash of the bursting torpedoes was the first Imtimation given that the great yes sol had met her fate. The proof of this seems clear when it is remem- hered that the thousand odd souls com
 posing the passenger list were seated at luncteon when the fatal bolts were fred. T. is inconceivahle that people would remain at the table when the vessel on which they were embarked was knowingly about to he destroyed.
 Germany may regret this action in
 the most extreme degree but at the same time belated contrition will not relieve her from the charge of hay l ing committed an act which can in no degree he held as justly warranted l even under the prescribed rules of war. II matters not that the vessel may have been transporting war contraband or that the ship itself was the property of British owners or even that owing to the great speed of the Lusitana it was impossible for the submarines to give warning and still achieve their purpose All and any excuses Tn Sucn circumstances seem hardly adequate to relieve Germany of the charge of wan ton destruction of innocent lives Even the possession of absolute knoWled"e that the Lusitania was loaded with powder and shot to be used later against the German troops does not seem an ample justification for the in human act of wrecking vengeance for the real or alleged faults of Britain. on women and children and unoffending citizens of neutral nations While it is admitted that in the last analysis war owns no law and acknowledges no rights save those of might it is none the less apparent that nation which claims the utmost advancement in culture and progress among the na- tions of the earth can reflect but little credit on her cause by acts of such lreprehensibe nature In the eyes of all | right thinking people Germany, through the sinking of the Lusitania stands convicted of an utter disregard of all humane feeling and may even be ac- cused of wanton and brutal murder
 Germany may 'eel herself justified