The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-06-15
..An1erica's Firm Stand

IAN March 20 the first American to be killed
~ in the submarine war Of Germany against
British commerce. Leon C; Thrasher, lost his life,
and protest, earnest and deep, came from the
United States Germany disavowed responsibility
for the lives of Americans travelling on British
ships. -..#. -.
On April % German aeroplane attacked the
American steamer Cushing in the North Sea. The
airman approached the steamer so closely that the
captain could distinguish plainly the national de
sgnatfon of the planes so closely that the aviator
could not have failed to note the nationality o.
the steamer, with her flag flying and with the
Stars and Stripes painted on her matches In this
attack no lives were lost, but the American gov
eminent protested. "
On May l the American tanker Gulflight was
torpedoed by German submarine, being subse-
quently towed to Wales and beached. Her cap
tain was killed and three American sailors shared
his fate. The Gulfght had her name and nation
atty painted in large letters her sides and dis
played her flag. The German government has ex-
planned that this attack was "a regrettable mis-
take" the submarine officer taking the ship for
Brttsher.
On May German submarine torpedoed and
sunk the British liner Lusitania, sailing from an
American port and known to have aboard many
American passengers. More than hundred of
these Americans were killed. In the sinking of
the Lusitania fifty babies not year old were
drowned or died from the exposure. Nearly two
hundred babies not two years old were killed.
Prompt protest was made by the United States
and demand made upon Germany to cease what
practically the whole world condemned as pira-
teal slaughter President Wilson, voicing the
sentiment of all neutrals, and speaking for uni
ted American nation, called upon Germany to
! 49,.
ty and the international laws respecting the car
rying on of war at sea, laws which Germany had
helped frame and by which she had pledged her
SELF to abide. For America the President wrote
The Imperial German government will not ex-
rect the government Of the United States to omit
any word OF any act necessary to the performance
Of its sacred duty OF maintaining the gifts of the
United States and its citizens"
These rights based upon all the laws of civil
izaton.
, The first act of aggression on the part of Germ
any against the United States was the sinking of
the American ship VIM. P Frye, bound from the
Sound to Liverpool with cargo of grain. The
Frye captured on the high seas after round
ing t Horn, ~ the German commerce DESTROYER
P1-I- Gitel Friedrich. Her captain, his wife, and
the crew were taken of the ship and the vessel
sent to the bottom. The Frye crew were kept
|
weeks, subject to the risk of battle should Brit
ich French or Japanese warship overhaul the
Prinz Eitel.
The American government made demand upon
Germany for the payment of damages for the de-
struction of the Frye, basing the claim upon the
terms of the Prussian- American Treaty of 1928,
one clause of which says
III one OF the contracting parties should be at
var with any other Power, the free intercourse
and commerce of the subjects or citizens of the
party remaining neutral with the belIgerent Pow.
ers shall not be interrupted"
The German government, replying to the de-
mand Of the United States for damages for the
sinking of the Frye, practically repudiates the
obligations of the Prussian Treaty. This epitom-
izing the German reply is. another scrap oil
paper"
Replying to the demands that the inhumane and
internationally illegal warfare against neutrals
cease the German note says in substance that
murder upon the high is justified, provided
that through the killing of neutrals and the sink
ing of neutral shipping injury can be inflicted
upon her enemy, Great Britain
The first demand Of the United States that