New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-01
TIE FRYATT CASE
Germany Again Resorting to the Old Policy
of "Frightfulness."

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: There is ample evidence that the Ger
man authorities still pin their faith "a
"frightfulness" as a policy that pays There
was the news the other day of the wholesas
deportations of urban populations IN belsiln
and Northern France. There comes now ne
Dragging dispatch 10 Sayville, giving detas
Of the execution Of Captain Charles ErysI-
of the Great Eastern Railway steamshP
Brussels. which was captured by German DE-
strovers last month and taken into Zee
brugce. The opportunity 70 make horri9s
example, whereby fond hope other brith
merchant captains should be terrorzed mo
docility was too good 10 miss, nor could ta'
Teutonic mind realize that the news OF tAn
legal butchery. flashed to neutral countries
would arouse any response other than sa'
miration for German logic and reprobati0a
for the criminality of the deceased.
On March 2s, 1915, according to the Ger
man account, Captain Fryatt, having bes'
summoned to stop by the submarine O-SS'
instead of complying with the order, tuInss
at high speed toward the submarine, "hieI
only escaped by diving Immediately sever"
yards below the surface" For TINS act n'
and the first officer and first engineer OF ths
Brussels received from the British Admir-
atty gold watches for brave conduct. VI
these grounds Captain Fryatt, having been
made prisoner by the Germans more thah .
year later was sentenced by court martha
and executed for frGnc-tWelu CRIME agS'h''
armed German sea forces"
Under German municipal law the legality OF
the execution is, OF course, unquestioned; io'
German municipal law holds that every COM
- ~. bo 90 letter
ternational law, save only the Germans and
their allies. Thus, while q German suomS,
rine may massacre unarmed men, women ana
children by the score by sinking Lusitanls
unwarned. the commander properly receW'
ing therefor the iron cross, had the ca 'a'a
of the Lusitania, anticipating the suona-
rine's intentions, broken its back and thereoi
saved the lives of his passengers, he wou,1
have been guilty of heinous crime and lusu!
liable to summary execution.
Under a wider Interpretation OF lnterhS'
tonal law, even the legality OF the executor
would appear extremely doubtful. SuomS'
rines which habitually and VIGOROUSLY wo'
late the law of nations by sinking mercnan,
vessels without warning might, It "ou,'
seem, justly be regarded as outside the pare
of international law, outlaws, TO be eHter'
minated ruthlessly, like loathsome yermn'
wherever and whenever encountered. NAV
on this occasion particular submarine TOOK
the exceptional course Of warning its yictim
was no guarantee that on another occasion
il would do the same thing.
OF course the British Admiralty has in is
hand the power OF retaliation. Il can lead
ont TO execution the commanders of German
submarines who nave been captured, and
this. with ample warrant, as just punishment
for their crimes against law and humanity
But common prudence, apart from any other
consideration, will forbid this course; for u
il comes TO reprsals, the nation which has
erected frightsuiness into theory Of govern
ment can safely be counted on to win.
New York, July 2S, 1916. >. W.