Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1915-07-14

mics and the methods Of warfare ad-
opted by them in contravention Of
international alw.
Lusitania Case Considered.
With all its efforts in principle to
protect neutral life and property
from damage as much as possible,
the German government recognized
unreservedly in its memorandum Of
February that the interests Of neu-
trails might suffer from the subma-
rine warfare. However, the Ameri-
can government will also understand
and appreciate that in the fight for
existence which has been forced upon
Germany by it's adversaries and an
nounced by them it is the sacred
duty of the imperial government to
do all within its power to protect and
save the lives Of German subjects. If
the imperial government were dere-
lict in these it's duties, it would be
guilty before God and history Of the
violation Of those principles OF high
est humanity which are the founda-
ton Of every national existence.
The case of the Lusitania shows
with horrible Clearness to what jeo-
pardizing Of human lives the manner
OF conducting war employed by our
adversaries leads. In the most di-
rect contradiction Of international
law, all distinctions between mer-
chantmen and war vessels have been
obliterated by the orders to British
merchantmen to arm themselves and
TO ram submarines, and the promise
or rewards therefor, and neutrals
who use merchantmen as travellers
thereby have been exposed in an in
creasing degree to all the dangers Of
war.
Feared to Warn LuSitania Victims.
If the commander of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lusi-
tania had caused the crew and pas
sengers to take to the boats before
firing torpedo this would have
meant the sure destruction of his
own vessel. After the experiences in
sinking much smaller and less sea-
worthy vessels, it was to be expected
that mighty ship like the Lusitania
would remain above water long
enough even after the torpedoing, to
permit passengers to enter the ships
boats. Circumstances Of a very pc
culiar kind, especially the presence
on board OF large quantities of high
~ explosive materials (word omit
ted, possibly 'dissipated"D this ex-
pectation. In addition it may be
pointed out that if the Lusitania had
been spared thousands Of cases Of
munitions would have been sent to
Germanys enemies and thereby
thousands of German mothers and
children robbed of breadwinners.
Bargains Offered to United States.
In the spirit of friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm
Dued toward the Union and its in
hohifants since the earliest davs Of
~ 'hl~te""N, The imperial govern
.y'. WIN always oe ready to do all IT,
1aH ,uruE the present war also 10
/ prevent tHe jcopardiains OF lives OF
American citizens. Tlc imVcr,aI
| eo'urhmenu, therefore, repeats the
assurances that American ships will
not be hindered in the prosecution of
legitimate shipping and the lives Of
American citizens in neutral vessels
shall not be placed in jeopardy.
In order to exclude any unforeseen
dangers to American passenger
steamers, made possible in view Of
the conduct Of maritime war by
Germany's adversaries, German sub
marines will be instructed to permit
the free and safe passage of such
passenger steamers when made rec
ogniZable by special markings and
notified reasonable time in ad-
vance The imperial government,
however, confidently hopes that the
American government will assume
to guarantee that these vessels have
no contraband on board details of
arrangement for the unhamDered
passage of these vessels to be agreed
on by the naval authorities Of both
sides.
Facilities for Travel.
In order to furnish adequate facili-
ties for travel across the Atlantic for
American citizens, the German gov
ernment submits for consideration a
proposal to increase the number of
available steamers by installing in
passenger service a reasonable num-
ber of neutral steamers under the
American flag, the exact number to
be agreed upon under the same con-
ait.cn as the above mentioned Ameri-
can steamers.
The imperial government believes
1t can assume that in this manner
adequate facilities for travel across
the Atlantic ocean can be afforded
American citizens. There would.
therefore, appear to be no compel
ling necessity for American citizens
to travel tC Europe in time Of war on
ships carrying an enemy flag.
In particular, the imperial govern
ment is unable to admit that Ameri-
can citizens con protect an enemy
ship through the mere fact Of their
presence on board.
Germany merely followed Eng
lands example when she declared
part Of the high sea an area OF war.
Consequently, accidents suffered by