New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-12
British Stand Firm,
Despite Teuton Threat

London. Feb. II. There is no evi-
dence that the British government or
It's Allies purpose to change the status
Of their merchant ships or the policy OF
arming merchantmen on account OF the
Austro-German declaration.
The government as yet has not Tor
mally considered the subject. but the
consensus Of opinion. as shown by
newspapers and authorities who nave
been interviewed. Is that Germany
declaration Of policy means no altera-
tion in her practice. except that II may
operate 20 keep neutrals of the ships
o. the belligerent powers and thus give
a clearer field for submarines 20 SINK
merchantmen.
Summarizing the situation. II rs con-
sidered that Germany will win an i'm
portant diplomatic victory If the
United States agrees 10 withdraw us
protection from its citizens travelling
on armed ships Such decision, u is
pointed out. would be wholly in Ger
many's interest. since that country has
no merchantmen on the sea.
As far as Germany's practice IS con
cerned. naval writers declared that her
submarines generally sank merchant
men whenever they could and Will con-
tinue the same practice. Il has been
The British contention that the Ger
man submarine methods, which at pest
gave merchant sailors only a hazard
Gus chance for their lives by taking TO
sea in small boats. justified merchant
men in lighting in self-detence. ana
merchantmen adopted a policy OF re
sistsnce only after several such cases
had occurred.
The evening newspapers. commenting
on the German memorandum regarding
the future treatment By Germany OF
armed merchantmen. sllude 20 D, a.
"niracy" and bluff" The Pail Mall
Gazette" says:
'The American public themselves
realize very clearly that their govern
ments energies are purely vocal. and
that the defence Of the worlds ciVlll-
cation against piracy and bsrbarism
rests entirely upon the shoulders Of the
Allies. Whatever promises may be given
to President Wilson about the sinking
OF merchantmen will be rendered quite
negative by the new theory proclaimed
on behalf OF Admiral Won TTpItz.
"The German Admiralty is Mortified
81 the spectacle of merchant shipping
carving guns for its own defence. II
is an outrage upon international law
that they should try 20 infict so much
as a scratch upon submarines which
torpedo them. drown their passengers
and crews and she'll their crowded
life-boats. Therefore Germany claims
the right 20 sink more LusitAnias on
the ground that they have wickedly
and feloniously taken measures 10
avert from themselves the fate Of the
first
Hopes Wilson Is Edited
we hope President Wilson is cd
FED by this conception Of the freedom
OF the seas
"The German intimation about sub.
marines" The Westminster Gazette
says. as. we imagine, put forward a.
this moment 70 convince the German
public that nothing Of any consequence
has been conceded in the settlement
with the United States about the Lust
tanis. Apparently, the Germans think
the settlement compatible with the new
order that merchantmen be sunk as
before, or the plea that they carry
guns 10 protect themselves against as
sailsnts who win destroy them y they
are without guns. o.,
THE preteXt is matter OF indif-
ference to Us. A preteXt viii always
be found. and we rely on the vigilance
and skill OF our feet TO defeat this
menace