Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-05-12


"The German submarine forces
have had, in fact. orders to conduct
the submarine warfare In accordance
with the general principles of visit
and search and the destruction OF
merchant vessels recognized by inter
national law, the sole exception be-
ing the conduct OF warfare against
enemy trade carried on enemy freight
ships encountered In the war zone sur.
rounding Great Britain. With regard
to these no assurance have ever been
given to the government of the United
States No such assurances are con-
tained in the declaration of February
s, 1916.
The German government cannot ad-
init any doubt that these orders were
given or are executed In good faitn.
Errors actually occurred. They can
in no kind of warfare be avoided al
together Allowance must be made
in the conduct Of naval warfare
against any enemy resorting to all
kinds of ruses, whether permissible
or Illicit.
"But. apart from tho possibility of
| errors. naval warfare, just like war
fare on land. implies unavoidable dan-
gers for neutral persons and goods
entering the fighting zone. Even In
cases where the naval action Is con-
fined to ordinary forms of cruiser
warfare. neutral persons and goods
repeatedly come to grief
"The German government has made
several proposals to the government
of the United States in order to re-
duce to a minimum for American trav-
elers and goods the inherent dangers
of naval warfare. Unfortunately the
government of the United States de-
cided not to accept the proposals. Had
1t accepted, the government OF the
United States would have been in
strumental in preventing the greater
part of the accidents that American
citizens have, met with In the mean
time
The German government still
stands by Its offer to come to an
agreement along these lines.
"As the German government repeat
edly declared. 1t cannot dispense with
the use of the submarine weapon In
the conduct of warfare against enemy
trade. The German government, how
ever. has now decided to make fur
ther concession. adopting methods of
submarine war to the interests of
neutrals.
'In reaching this decision the Ger
man government is actuated by cor
siderations which are above the level
of disputed questions.
"The German government attaches
no less Importance to the sacred prin-
ciples OF humanity than the govern
ment of the United States 1t again
fully takes into account that both gov
ernments for many years co-operatei
in developing International law in
conformity with these principles, tha
ultimate object of which has always
been to confine warfare on sea and
land to armed forces OF belligerents
and safeguard as far as possible non
combatants against the horrors of war.
But, although these considerations
are Of great weight. they alone would
not, under present circumstances,
have determined the attitude of the
German government For in answer
to the appeal by the government of
the United States on behalf of the
sacred principles of humanity and In
tcrnational law, the German govern
ment must repeat once more with all
emphasis that 1t was not the German
but the British government which
ignored all accepted rules Of inter-
national law and extended this terrible
war to the lives and property of non
combatants, having no regard what
ever for the interests and rights of
neutrals and non-combatants that
through this method of warfare have
been severely in jured
"1n self-defense against the Illegal
Conduct of British warfare. while
fighting a bitter struggle for national
existence, Germany had to resort to
the hard but effective weapon of sub
marine warfare.
"As matters stand. the German gov
ernment cannot but reiterate regret
that the sentiments Of humanity which
the government of the United States
extends with such fervor to the un-
happy victims of submarine warfare
are not extended with the same
| warmth of feeling to many millions
Of women and children who, accord
ing to the avowed intention of the
British government. shall be starved,
and who. by sufferings, shall force
the victorious armies of the central
powers into 1gnomfnous capitulat1on,
The German government in agreement
with the German people fails to un-
derstand this discrimination. all the
more as 1t has repeatedly and ex-
plicitly declared itself ready to use
the submarine weapon In strict con-
formity with the rules OF international
law as recognized before the outbreak
Of the war, IL Great Britain likewise
was ready to adapt the conduct of
warfare to these rules.
Several attempts made by the gov
ernment OF the United States to pre-
vail upon the British government to
act accordingly failed because of fiat
refusal on the, part Of the British gov
ernment. Moreover Great Britain
again and again has violated interna-
tional law. SURPRISING all bounds in
outraging neutral rights. The latest
measure adopted by Great Britain do
claring German bunker coal contra