The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-08
IntimatiOn Is That America
Might Find Same Course
Necessary.

ton OF Article I OF the convention No
81 open and undefended English
towns were bombarded and many scores
Of peaceful men. women n children
los, their lives.
No offence can be urged against the
inhabitants Of Scarborough or Whitby.
Germany holds herself free to attack
unarmed acknowledgements, without, dis
t~inction OF age or sex, upon all oc.
c2sions where darkness can cover the
approach OF her vessels and swift Night
complete their immunity. She has shown
no desire to repeat the experiment since
II was demonstrated TO her by the last
battle in the North Sea that such crimes
were liable to swift punishment.
Let us turn to G%ermany's attitude
toward international law at sea. We
have already referred to her mines. H.
legally constructed and Illegally placed.
From this particular peril international
law protects all merchant vessels,
whether neutral or not. German mines
destroy on contact all vessels, whether
neutral or not. The practice OF sowing
such mines In unnotiied areas was be-
gun by Germany long before Great Britt
ain was forced to retaliate by placing
anchored mines, constructed In accord
ance with the requirements OF law, In
certain restricted and duly notified
areas.
The German Admission.
The German note to the United States
dated March ! admits by implication
that Germany in defiance of law has
sown floating mines and that her
anchored mines are not so constructed
that IL they come adrift they are rem
dered II will also have been
noted that In the same despatch she has
given a point blank refusal to the sug.
Sestion that mines should not be used
Tor offensive purposes, ard has given
no guarantee that the areas of such
mines when used will he duly notified.
This admission as to the Illegal charac-
ter OF her use OF mines is notable. but
the fact has already been demonstrated
by n catalogue OF calamities involving
the destruction OF vessels and lives, both
British and neutral. International law
is therefore no protection to any sailor,
however peaceful and however neutral.
from German mines.
German cruisers and submarines. how
ever. diner from mines IN that they Dos
sess the power OF discrimination. When
"A neutral vessel has been d stroyed by
a mine Germany has feigned surprise at
the inevitable result OF her own action (:
~ 49, NoFt VI tAFFlF ailb Fhillltl 4lfS
this pose is no longer possible. The de-
hance OF neutral rights Is renewed afresh
upon every occasion when "A neutral ship
Is attacked. The protection which in
ternational law accords to all peaceful
merchant vessels and in particular to
the lives OF their passengers and crews
Germany holds herself free to deny.
Thoss on board are lucky indeed IL they
get even the chance of entrustins their
lives to small boats.
They gave us no time to get away"
said an officer of the Falaba.
which was torpedoed on March 81. FOR
they torpedoed us while there were
people on board and while one boat was
actually being lowered" on that oc-
casion more than one hundred lives were
sacrificed. including the lives OF several
women. The submarine proffered no
assistance. I'VE could see said a pas
senger on the Falaba, her crew laugh
ing al vs. MS the people were struggling
in the water"
These proceedings are not In accord
anca with international law. They mark
the elimination Of a career of illegality
! at sea begun by Germany In October,
1914, when the first merchant vessel
was attacked by a German submarine
The calculated ~inhumanity of the lat,i
proceedings " more marked, but their
70 - Nv "a uIbll
which Germany So KS to defend her ac-
ton Is the seizure OF the Wilhelmina
bound with food for Germany. and thu
recent British proclamation, Unfor-
~tunately for Germany, this defence. II
II can be called a defence-ls not avail
able. The German submarine attacks
on merchant vessels were in progress
long before the Wilhelmina case.
Can any man who has followed the
conduct ~ Germany and Great Britain
In this matter. the one anarchic In its
disregard OF the sanctity Of life.
the rights OF property and the Interest.
OF neutral States the other calm, DELHI
crate, effective, making ~scrupulous pro
vision for all legitimate interests an,
without menace TO a single neutral life,
doubt which is more in accord with
principles OF that law OF nations who's
object is equal justice and whose sarc-
ton is the common sense n good fee.
ing OF mankind
-
tirticIe I.
The bombdrdment BY narnl forces o,
unde(ended ports, toWns, villages, dircl.
'nDs or buildings is forbidden.
4 place may not be BON bdrded soisl,
on the ground that automatic submarine