Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1916-05-11

EMPEROR WILLIAM
the present stage OF affairs, more par
ucularly as the Government of the
United States omitted to substantiate
the assertion by reference to concrete
facts.
THE German Government will only
state 1t has imposed far-reaching re.
straints upon the use OF the submarine
weapon, solely in consideration OF
neutrals interests. in spite OF the fact
that these restrictions are necessarily
OF advantage to Germany's enemies.
No such consideration has ever been
shown neutrals by Great Britain and
her Allies"
Submarine Orders.
"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 mer.
chant vessels, recognized by interna-
tional law, the sole exception being
the conduct of warfare against enemy
trade carried on enemy freight ships
encountered in the war zone surround
ing Great Britain. With regard to
these no assurance has ever been Civ.
Ell to the Government OF the United
states. No such assurances are con-
tanned in the declaration of February
s. 1916"
Claim Errors Occurred.
THE German Government canno.
admit any doubt that these orders
were given or are executed in good
faith. Errors actually occurred. They
can in no kind of warfare be avoided
altogether. Allowances must be made
in the conduct of naval warfare
against an enemy resorting to all
kinds OF ruses, whether permissible or
Illicit"
Unavoidable" Dangers to Neutrals.
But apart from the 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 war
fare neutral persons and goods re-
peatedly come to grief.
THE German Government has re.
peatedly pointed out the dangers from
mines that have led to the loss of
numerous ships
Some German Pepper In This.
The German Government has made
several proposals to the Government
OF the United States in order to re-
duce to minimum for American trav.
elers and goods the inherent dangers
or naval warfare. Unfortunately the
Government Of the United States do.
cided not to accept the proposals. Had
1t accepted the Government OF the
United States would have been instru.
mental in preventing the greater part
or the accidents that American cit.
liens lave met with in the meantime
The German Government still
stands by it's offer to come 10 an
agreement along these lines"
Makes Further Concession.
AS the German Government re-
pcatedly declared. it cannot dispense
witt the use Of the submarine weapon
In the conduct of warfare against
enemy trade. The German Govern
ment, however. has now decided to
make a further concession adapting
methods of submarine war to the in.
erests of neutrals.
I'm reaching this decision the Ger.
man Government is actuated by con
siderations which are above the Level
of disputed question"
Sacred Principles Of Humanity.
The German Government attaches
no less Importance to the sacred
principles of humanity than the Gov.
ernment Of the United States. 1t
again fully takes into account that
both governments for many years co.
operated in developing international
law in conformity with these princi.
pies, the ultimate object of which has
always been to confine warfare on sea
and land to armed forces of belliger-
ents and safeguard as far as possible
nonIcombatants against the horrors
OF war. But although these consid.
erations are of great weight. they
alone would not under present cir
cumstances have determined the atti.
tude of the German Government