Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-07-10

statesmen have in fact always stood
together in the struggle for the free
dom of the seas and for the protection
of peaceable trade. In the interna-
uonal proceedings which since have
been conducted for the regulation of
the laws of maritime war Germany
and America have jointly advocated
progressive principles, especially the
abolishment of the right of capture at
sea and the protection of the interests
of neutrals.
Even at the beginning of the pres
ent war the German government i'm
mediateiy declared its willingness in
response to proposals of the American
government to ratify the Declaration
of London and thereby subject itself
in the use of its naval forces to all
the restrictions provided therein in
favor of neutrals. Germany likewise
has been always tenacious os the
principle that war should be conduct
ed against the armed and organized
forces of an enemy country, but that
the enemy civilian population must be
spared as far as possible from the
ernment cherishes the definite hope
that some way will be found when
peace is concluded. or perhaps earlier,
to regulate the law of maritime war
in a manner guaranteeing the free
dom of the seas, and will welcome
it with gratitude and satisfaction II it
can work hand in hand with the
American government on that occa-
sion.
Charges Foes Violated Laws
eff in the present war the principles
which should be the ideal of the flu
ture have been traversed more and
more, the longer it's duration, the Ger
man government has no guilt therein.
1t is known to the American govern
ment how Germany's adversaries, by
completely paralyzing peaceable traffic
between Germany and neutral coun-
tries have aimed from the very begin
ming and with increasing lack of con-
sideration at the destruction, not so
much of the armed forces as the life
of the German nation, repudiating in
doing so all the rules of international
law and disregarding all right of
neutrals.
On November 3, 1914, England de-
cfared the North sea war area and
by planting poorly anchored mines and
by the stoppage and capture of ves-
sells made passage extremely dan
gerous and difficult for neutral ship
ping, that actually blockading neutral
coasts and ports contrary to all inter-
national law. Long before the begin
ming of submarine war England prac-
tically completely intercepted legiti-
mate neutral navigation to Germany
submarine war on trade.
On November IA, 1914, the English
premier declared in the house of COM
mons that it was one of England s
principal tasks to prevent food for the
German population from reaching
Germany via neutral ports. Since
March first England has been taking
from neutral ships without further
formality all merchandise proceeding
to Germany, as we'll as all merchan-
disc coming from Germany, even when
neutral 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
independence.
Forced to Submarine Warfare
while our enemies thus loudly and
openly proclaimed war without mercy
until our utter destruction, we were
conducting a war in self-defense for
our natural eXistnce and for the sake
of peace of an assured permanency.
We have been obliged to adopt a sub
| marine warfare to meet the declared
intentions of our enemies and the
method of warfare adopted by them
in contravention of international law.
with all its efforts in principle to
protect neutral life and property from
| damage as much as possible, the Ger
man government recognized unre-
servedly in its memorandum of Feb
ruary that the interests of neutrals
might suffer from the submarine war
fare. However, the American govern
ment will also understand and appre-
ciate that in the fight for existence
which has been forced upon Germany
by its adversaries and announced by
them it is the sacred duty of the i'm
perial government to do all within its
power to protect and save the lives OF
| German subjects. If the imperial
government were derelict in these its
duties it would be guilty before God
and history of the violation of these
principles of highest humanity which
are the foundation 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 ouI
adversaries leads. In the most di-
rect contradiction of international law
all distinctions between merchantmen
and war vessels have been obliterateo
by the order to British merchantmen
to arm themselves and to ram sub
marines and the promise of rewards
therefore, and neutrals who use mer-
chantmen as trawlers thereby have
been exposed in an increasing degree
to all the dangers of war.
! LuSitania Action justified
"If the commander of the German
submarine which destroyed the Lusi
tania had caused the crew and pas.
lsengers to take to the boats before fir.
ing a torpedo this would have mean
the sure destruction of his own yes
sci. After the experiences in sinking
much smaller and less seaworthy yes
sells, it was to be expected that
mighty ship like the Lusitania woulc
Iremain above water long enough ever
after the torpedoing to permit pas
lsengers to enter the ships boats. Cir.
cumstances of a very peculiar kind
especially the presence on board o.
large quantities of highly explosive
materials (word omitted, possibly dis
IsipatedD this expectation. In addition
it may be pointed out that If the Lusi.
tania had been spared thousands o.
cases of munitions would have beer
lsent to Germany's enemies and there
by thousands of German mothers anC
children robbed of bread winners.
In the spirit of friendship where
with the German nation has been i'm,
bued towards the union and it's inhabi
tants since the earliest days of itl
existence, the imperial government
will always be ready to do all 1t car
during the present war also to pre-
vent the jeopardizing of lives of Amer.
lican citizens. The imperial govern
ment, therefore, repeats the assurance.
-lz ,,,tII L