Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-02-19
ARE WE DRIFTING INTO A NEW
CRISIS?


The United States is facing today
the gravest crisis that has confronted
us in the present war When every
newspaper in the country proclaimed
that our negotiations with Germany
were at the most critical" stage
with war at arms length--The
Fatherland declared that there was
no Lusitania crisis. Events have
proved that The Fatherland was
right. Today we assert with equal
emphasis that there is danger ahead.
The Central Powers have declared
that beginning with the first Of
March armed merchantmen VIII be
treated as warships We may be
willing to eat our own words and to.
recant Secretary Lansings memoran-
DUN on the subject Of submarine
warfare. We cannot expect Germany
to do likewise Poker Is not the
German national game. The Ger
mans are not nation or buffers.
Unless our Government issues an
immediate warning against travel
on belligerent vessels, we shall have
to face in another couple Of weeks
the serious situation that vessel
carrying American passengers will
such vessel was armed
Whatever policy the United States
may pursue in the matter, it is fate
full for us to drift without taking q
clear and unambiguous stand before
new catastrophe occurs. If we de-
fer our decision until such a time
our course of action would depend
not on the principles so clearly en-
unciatcd by Mr.. Lansing in his sub
marine memorandum, but or the
cxigencies OF the moment. With
party strife in the land, tho sword
will rest but loosely in its acabbard
There would be scant opportunity for
reason because we would be COM
PEELED to formulate our opinion not
upon undisputable facts but upon
colored partisan statements and
upon the testimony Of incompetent
witnesses.
The Central Powers having ac-
knowledged the justice of our con
tention that submarines must not
destroy merchantmen without first
safeguarding the lives Of American
passengers, it was clearly the duty
OF our Government to insist that the
lives Of such American passengers
shall not be jeopardized by the mer-
chantmen themselves There can be
no greater danger for non-combat-
ants than to place weapons capable
OF Destroying hostile submarines in
the hands of captains OF merchant
vessels. Our Government has wisely
attempted to remove that peril by
proposing an international agree
ment for the disarming Of merchant
men.
Since the declaration of Paris OF
1856, armed merchantmen have no
status in international law except
as auxiliary cruisers OF the national
navies. 1t Is significant that France
as well as Germany has consistently
observed that rule while England
violates her plighted word in arming
merchantmen. In order TO save her
battleships England conducts her
war against German submarines by
arming her merchantmen in man
ner sufficient to sink any submarine.
The argument that the armament is
for defense purposes" only is moth
ing but q hollow pretext, dangerous
to unsuspecting passengers. Tor
what defensive purposes can these
ships carry guns unless TO offer re-
sistance to submarines signalling
them TO stop? However, every ves-
sci offering resistance under such
circumstances may admittedly be
sunk without much ado. Hence
every passenger on board OF such q
ship is in peril OF mis- life, and his
death will be upon our heads unless
tho United States issues to him an
unmistakable warning.
The idea of abolishing the mall
practice OF arming merchantmen by
common consent is hardly feasible
in times OF world-war England.
bent on exterminating the German
submarines by every means, fair or
foul, is not likely to abandon that
malpractice by amicable persuasion.
II we desire to remov every possibil-
ity Of friction, and ii we desire to
safeguard the lives Of our citizens,
there Ia only one peaceful course
open to us the United States must
declare without delay that citizens
travelling on board armed ships oil
belligerents do so at their own risk.
This should apply not only to ships
leaving American ports, but to all
ships on the Seven Seas, no matter
from what port they hail If we per-
NIT American citizens to board yes
sells which, while leaving American
harbors without armament, arc
armed at sea we shall only in
crease the possibilities Of disaster.
We may not be able to compel the
beiligerents to comply with our de-
mand although France already rec
ognizes the principle on which our
attitude Is based and refuses to arm
her merchantmen, but at least we
can deny the protection OF the United
States to American citizens who. in
spite Of the perils with which their
course is fraught, insist upon travel
ing on bclligerent privateers, unless
the Allies issue definite instructions
to their merchantmen forbidding
them to carry arms OF to resist cap
ture. II seems only fair that citizens
placing themselves under the protec-
tion Of the guns Of q belligerent
should for the time being be placed
outside Of the protection Of the
United States.
&irdtftd,e Jtutcinrt,