The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-14
GERMAN OPINION
Continued from FIRST Pags.l

every English born captain prize of
1000 pounds. who, with, an English
merchant ship destroyed a German
submarine.
Sunk German Vessels.
I'VE further know that hostile SUD-
marines have attacked and in soma
cases have sunk German merchant
men without the slightest warning
Thus were sunk the German steam
ers Burgemeister Votmelle, Doritia,
the Elbe and Hotlandia. They were
all attacked by enemy submarines
with artillery or torpedoes without
the shadow Of warning.
These facts, OF course, justify the
suspicion that among other German
steamers which are simply overdue or
have not returned, several met their
end in the same fashion. In one case
that Of the steamer Kolga, we know ii
from survivors. In this case seven hui
man lives were lost, and the survivors
declared that a British submarine
calmly steered around the sinking ship
without even stirring a hand toward
rescue. | merely refer to this in order
to explain the feeling Of the German
population.
German, on the other hand, has
promised the United States TO carry on
submarine war according to the inter
national rules Of cruiser warfare
The orders to the commanders OF
our submarines are clear and strict in
this direction. | can affirm with alb
solute certainty that no German sub
marine has Intentionally attacked a
merchant ship without warning, and
without giving all on board ample time
and opportunity for rescue"
Surrounded by Enemies.
The situation Is that Germany and
her allies are surrounded BY enemies
and that Germany has VIGOROUSLY car
ried the war on all fronts beyond the
limits Of Germany. Popular feeling In
Germany is that our enemies. unable
to win victory on the battlefield. will
try to win by creating wrong impreS
sion about Germany's intentions and
Germany's action in the rest Of the
world where Germany's voice can only
seldom be heard.
They will try to persuade the world
that In the case Of submarines and IN
other cases Germany will disregard
her given word, while they themselves
In fact, have abrogated the laws OF
nations and do themselves what they
charge against us, as in the case OF
hostile submarines GtIACRlHS Vel uldL
vessels, and In attacks on neutrals, as
in the case Of Greece.
But this respect for truth and JUS
/ tice cannot be suppressed forever
We are confident in our future mill
tary operations and are equally con
fident that the justice OF our cause
viii triumph in the mind of the world
The Associated Press despatch
which was the subject Of DR.. thinner
lmann's discussion dealt with the var
ious questions in the international sit
uatlon to which President Wilson and
the State Department were devotins
their attention.
The dispatch declared that the most
spectacular and disQuieting OF the
problems was the submarine situa'
ton with Germany, five critical cases
being investigated, one with the loss
OF six American lives and two others
having to with American ships. The
American attitude was described as
| uncompromlsing Ships must not be
sunk without warning or without pro-
vision for the safety Of passengers
facing high seas or distant from shore
The relations with the Entente Al
lies were declared TO be less clear cut