Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-05-19

used against at the last
few weeks have shown. without an in
evitable violation of many sacred prin-
ciples of Justice and humanity.
American citizens act within their
i%ndisputable rights in taking their ships
and in travelling wherever their legiti-
mate business calls them upon the high
seas. and exercise these rights In
dence that their lives will not be en-
dangered by acts done in clear violation
OF universally acknowledged obligations
and certainly I'm the confidence that
their own government will sustain
them in he exercise of their rights.
Warning No justification.
There was recently published in the
newspapers of the United States, l re-
greet to Inform the imperial government,
a formal warning ~purporting to come
from the imperial German embassy at
Washington. addressed to the people of
the United States and stating in effect.
that Any citizen of the United States
who exercised his right of free travel
upon the seas would do so at his peril
the zone OF waters within which the Inn
perial German navy was using sub
marines. against the uf
Great Britain and France, notwith-
standing the respectful but very earn
| est protect of his government. The
l 9ON VI AiC vi GIIG SAlllC0 SGtk ooCN
not refer to this for the purpose of call
ing the attention of the imperial Gov
eminent at this time to the surprising
irregularity of a communication from
the imperial German embassy at Wash
| but only for the purpose of pointing GU,
i that no warming that an unlawful and
inhumane act would be committed can
possibly be accepted as an excuse or
pallfation for that act as an abatement
Of the responsibility for its commission.
Long acquainted as this government
has been with the character of the inn
perial German government. n with
the high principals of equity by which
they have in the past been actuated
n guided. the government of the Uni
ted States cannot believe that the COM
manders of the vessels which commit
ted these acts of lawlessness. did 80
except under a misrepresentation of the
orders issued by the German naval au-
thorities. 1t takes it for granted that
at least within the practical possible
ty of every such case the commanders
even of We're expected to
do nothing that would involve the lives
of noncomhatants or the safety of neu-
trail ships even at the cost of failing
of their object. capture or destruction
Prepared for E~ventualities.
1T is confidently expected. therefore,
that the imperial German government
will disavow the acts of which the gov
eminent of the United States com
plains. that they will make PREPARATION
so far as reparation is possible for in
| juries which are without measure, and
that they will take Immediate steps to
prevent the recurrence of anything
obviously subversive Of the principles
of warfare for which the imperial Ger
man government has in the past so
wisely and so firmly contended.
The government and people of the
United States look to the imperial Ger
man government for just and prompt
and enlightened action in this vital
matter with the greatest confidence.
because the United States and Ger
many are bound together not only by
special ties of friendship, but by ex-
between the United States and the
kingdom of Prussia.
Expressions Of regret and offers of
PREPARATION in ease of the destruction
OF neutral ships sunk by mistake. while
they may satisfy international obliga-
lions IL no loss of life results. cannot
justify nor excuse a practice, the nat
ural and necessary effect of which is
to subject neutral nations and neutral
persons to new and immeasurable risks.
THE imperial German government
will not expect the government of the
United States to omit any word or any
necessary act to the performance Of it's
sacred duty of maintaining the rights
Of the United States. and its citizens
and of safeguarding their free exercise
and enjoyment.
(Signed) BRYAN"
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