The Keota news., 1915-07-16

law. Long before the beginning OF
submarine war England practically
completely intercepted legitimate neu-
trail navigation to Germany also. Thus
Germany was driven to . submarine
war on trade.
Would Keep Food From Germany.
ION Nov. IA, 1914, the English pre-
mier declared in the House OF Com
mons that it was one OF Englands
principal tasks to prevent food for the
German population from reaching
Germany via neutral ports. Since
March /, England has been taking
from neutral ships without further for
mality all merchandise proceeding to
Germany, as we'll as all merchandise
coming from Germany, even when neu-
trail property. Just as it was also
with the Beers, the German people Is
now to be given the choice Of perish
ing from starvation with its women
and children or of relinquishing Its In
dependence.
while our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaimed war without mercy
until our utter destruction, We were
conducting war in self-defense for our
national existence and for the sake OF
peace of an assured permanency. We
have been obliged to adopt subma-
rine warfare to meet the declared In
tentions of our enemies and thu
method of warfare adopted by thep: In
contravention Of International law.
with all it's efforts in principle to
protect neutral life and property from
damage as much as possible, the Ger
man government recognizes unreserv-
edly in its memorandum Of Feb. that
the interests Of neutrals might suffer
from the submarine warfare. How
ever, the American government will
also understand and appreciate that
in the fight for existence which has
been forced upon Germany by its ad-
versdsies and announced by them, 1t
is the sacred duty OF the imperial gov
ernment to do all within its power to
protect and save the lives OF German
subjects.
Enemies Blamed for lusitania Horror.
IT the imperial government were
derf Let in these, its duties. 1t would
be guilty before God and history Of
the violation of those principles Of
highest humanity which are the foun-
dation Of every national existence.
"The case Of the Lusitania shows
with horrible clearness to what jeop-
ardizing Of human lives the manner Of
conducting war employed by our ad.
versaries leads. In the most direct
contradiction Of International law, all
distinction between merchantmen and
war vessels has been obliterated by
the order to British merchantmen to
arm themselves and to ram subma-
rines, and the promise Of rewards
therefor, and neutrals who use mer-
chantmen as travellers thereby have
been exposed In an increasing degree
to all the danger war.
III the commander of the German
which destroyed the Lusi-
tania had caused the crew and pas
sengers to take to the boats before
firing a torpedo. this would have
meant the sure destruction of his own
vessel. After the experiences in sink
Ing much smaller and less seaworthy
,ssels. it/was to be expected that q
mighty ship like the Lusitania would
remain above water long enough even
after the torpedoing to permit pas
sengers to enter the ships boats.
Explosion Hastened Destruction.
circumstances Of a very peculiar
kind, especially the presence on
board Of large quantities of highly ex.
plosive materials defeated this expec.
tation.
In addition 1t may be pointed out
that II the Lusitania had been spared
thousands Of cases of munitions would
have been sent to Germany's enemies
and thereby thousands Of German
mothers and children robbed of bread.
winners.