The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-05-10

s~"S sseuo' 4no 0eFman govern
ment however. has now decided to
make further concession, adopting
methods Of submarine war to tile in.
terests Of neutrala
in reaching this decision the Ger.
man government i'd actuated by con-
alterations. which are above the level
OF disputed question.
'Ths German government attaches
no less importance to the sacred prin-
ciples Of humanity than the govern
Snent Of the United States. 1t again
takes fully into account that both
srvsrnmsnts for many years cool,erat-
Cd In developing international law in
conformity with these principles, the
ultimate object Of which has always
been to confine, warfare on ses. and
land to armed forces Of belligerents
and safeguard as far as possible nom
combatants against the horrors of
war. But although these consi deraI
tons are Of great weight, they alone
would not under present circum.
stances have determined the attitude
|of the German government. For in
answer to the appeal by the govern
ment OF the United states on behalf
|of the sacred principles Of humanity
and International law the German
| |eevsrnmSnf must repeat once NOR.
tvtth ait smbhasis thst il was not the
German but Tie Brttish government
whieky ignStsd nj accepted rates Of
intefn4aionai hw ana extended this
terrible wat 70 ths iivss and property
|of non-combatans. having nd regard
whatever tor the interests and rights
of rsutrals and noh-combatapta that
shroueA this mttkod Of warfare have
btsn ssverely injured.
| "lh ssif defsuiA AGAINST the ills2ai
Feendnet et Bsitah wsrfare, while
InshAas = iattsr strusSIe Tor national
skisseace. ussnany had 10 resort to
| ~ hard but, sRscsivs weapon 81. Jus.
tsafiilt w4tfars, s
- anatters stard the German Eov.
tshinsnt can but reitsrats rtxret; that
~ Asntimsnts o. humanity which tks
l6svttnmsnt Of the unitsd stat,n a.
It{hds kith such fsrvor 10 the uni,aSby
Evictims Of submarine warfare Ais not
sxtenaed With the alnis warmth. of
tseliiag q many millions d wSH,yn
And childrsh who, accordins u tfis
At6tsa Intention Of the British tovv.
fnhe6t. sh6N be starved. and whs
t{fsftpg shall force the vicuRiouL
Afmids of tie central powers into
itnoininSi,s eabitulatioh. The der
AH koYstpiaSnt In asreemeht With
~ dSrm4A ptcpis. fails ID un6Sf.
Mad tAlS dii6fithlnation, ali ths mSrs
~ y ~ sspsStsdiy and sxpilSitiy ds.
|clarsd itsslf rsad} to use the sub.
In,Arins wsAnon " snact confo rmit,
IWtth ~ rules o. International INV !.
rscolnissd before the outbreak AZ tho
|war. X Great Britain likewise, wa,
ready % adapt The conduct Of war.
lfsrs 70 these rules
Several attempts made by the gov.
eminent Of the United states to pre-.
vail upon the British government "a
act accordingly failed because OF f,at
refusal on tho part Of the British
sovssnmsnt. Moreover. Great Britain
again and again has violated Inter.
nstioIlal law. surpsnins all bounis in
outraying neutral rights. The lates,
measure adopted by Great Britain,
DECLARING German bunker coal con-
trabai,d ana sstablishins conditions
under which Enslish bunker coal
alone = supplied to neutrals is moth.
ling but IN unhsardAof attempt by way
OF exaction to force neutral tonnage
into the service Of British trade war.
The German people know that
the government Of the United States
has tie power to er, he war to
armed forces Of the belliserent coln-
tries In the interest Of humanity and
maintGnance Of international law.
The government Of the United States
would have been certain Of attaining
this end had 1t been determined to
insist against Great Britain on the
incontrovertible rights to freedom Of
the seas. But az matters stand the
German people IL under tho i'm
precision that the government OF the
United States. while demanding that
Germany. struggling for existence,
saall restrain the use Of an effective
weapon and while making complianc
with these demands q condition for
mainteance Of relations with Ger
mSnY OnnAnAa f<.o,p