New-York tribune., 1916-07-29
WARNING FOR THE DEUTSCHLAND
Her Sinking, ResardIe" Of Law, Would
Iucalculably Harm Great Britain.
To tho Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor or The 1r1bune.
Sir: In The Tribune Of to-day notice IN
the sixth paragraph Of the fifth column, u
Boat will Not Sail for Week. the follow
ing: Tonight there is no more secrecy con-
cerning the elaborate plans of the Deutsch-
lands enemies TO sink her either in neutral
waters or on the high seas, no matter what
the cost.
"Trs n case of the fighters sinking her ana
letting the diplomats settle the affair at their
leisure was the way one old sailor put IT,
The British followed that policy IN Chili'
and there is no doubt but that they VIII 90
the same thing here
Not only ms an American. but as a friend
of Great Britain and OF the Allies in general
desire to point out the very grave signih-
cance of any successful or unsuccessful at
tempt (could the latter be proved to sink the
Deutschland without warning" The Deutsch-
land, by official decision duly announced Is
merchantmen, constructed as freight car
rier and not as a mnn-of-war; sent here on q
peaceful mercantile errand, and evidently,
beyond cavil, planning to return peacefully TO
Germany. Great Britain her Allies and the
United States, as well as certain other non
belligerent nations, together with the senti-
ment Of mankind irrespective OF nations ana
their governments, most Of the civilized
world, in a word, has cried out against the
fendish German frightfulness of sinking
merchantmen without warning. With the ex-
ception Of the violation Of Belgium, the main
basis for the unpopularity of Germany, IL not
the hatred engendered against her, has been
her submarine campaign. her sinking without
warning of many peaceful merchant vessels
of which the Lusitania is the type and ex-
ample that will never be forgotten in history.
The entirely new problems presented by the
frail but deadly submarine have been thor
oughly discussed. Germany's side OF the
argument has been fouted and bitterly
scorned.
After all this storm and travail, II BTU
ish cruiser sinks the Deutschland without
warning Germany will be in a position TO
laugh her opponents to scorn. why not
A British or French cruiser lying on the
Capes Of the Chesapeake has no more right
to sink the Deutschland without warning
than the German submarine off the Head OF
Kinsale had n right to sink the Lusitania
without warning When that massacre was
discussed, the American and the British
claim was this: "If the German submarine,
owing to It's limitations, cannot halt mer-
chantman and give her time to save her crew
and passengers, then the German submarine
is simply unfortunate, and humanity dictates
that she must allow the merchantmen TO pro-
ceed"
The same claim, precisely, may be made
concerning the Deutschland. though in this
case it is the enemy's cruiser which has
limitations, not the submarine. 'If the Brit
ish cruiser cannot halt the German merchant
man for that is what she is) and cannot give
her time to save her crew, then the British
cruiser is simply unfortunate, and humanity
dictates that she must allow the merchant
man whether submarine or noD to proceed.
You cannot, in fairness or in logic, you
cannot in terms Of humanity, law or tactful
wise policy. make any distinction here. III
Germany did far more harm than good to her
cause by sinking the Lusitania-and it is
said to have been worth many army corps to
her enemies it follows that Great Brit
ain by sinking the Deutschland without warn
ing will do her cause and that of the Allies
far more harm than good
| hone the commander Of the British
cruiser off the Capes, as well as the govern
ment of Great Britain. thoroughly under
stands this I hope The Tribune will treat
the matter editorially, while there is yet
time, in no uncertain fashion. 1t would be a
moral disaster for England and France to
sink the Deutschland without warning. III
would do Germany but little harm and very
much good 1t would virtually wipe out the
stigma on the German nation and brand all
the belligerents as barbarans and cutthroats.
1t would be better for Great Britain to lose
the battle of the Somme and for France to
lose Verdun than for a cruiser Of either ma
tion TO sink the Deutschland without warn
ing" AMERICAN CITIZEN.
New York, July 27, 1916