Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-05

through this method of warfare have
been severely injured.
In Sclr-Dcfense
In scIf-dcfensc against the illegal
conduct of British warfare, wlIIlc
fighting a bitter struggle for national
existence. Germany had tn resort to
tho 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, according
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 igno-
minious Capitulation. The German
government, in agreement with the
! German people, fails TO understand
this discrimination. all the more as it
has repeatedly and explicitly declared
itself ready TO use the submarine
weapon in strict conformity with the
rules of international Jaw as recognized
before the outbreak of the war, If
Great Britain likewise was ready TO
rules.
British Are Accused
Several attempts made by the gov
ernment of the United States to prevail
upon the British government to act
accordingly failed because of fiat re-
fusal on the part of the British gov
ernment. Moreover, Great Britain
again and again has violated inter-
national law, surprising all bounds in
neutral rights adopted by Great Britain
declaring German bunker coal con-
ira band and establishing conditions
urder which English bunker coal alone
is supplied to neutrals is nothing but
an unheard-of attempt by way of eX-
action to force neutral tonnage into
the service of British trade war.
The German people know that the
government of the United States has
the power to confine the war to armed
forces of the belligerent countries, in
the interest of humanity and main
tenance of International law. The gov
ernment of the United States would
have been certain of attaining this end
had it been determined to insist against
Great Britain on the incontroVertible
rights to freedom Of the seas. But as
matters stand, the German people are
under the impression that the govern
ment of the United States, while de-
mGnding that Germany, struggling for
existence, shall restrain the use of an
effective weapon, and while making
compliance with these demands a con-
dition for maintenance of relations
with Germany, confines itself to pro-
tests against illegal methods adopted
by Germany's enemies. Moreover. the
German people know TO what consid-
era BILE extent its enemies are supplied
with all kinds of war material from
the United States.
Guided by Friendship
TT will, therefore, be understood
that the appeal made by the govern
ment of the United States to senti-
ments of humanity and principles of
international law cannot under the cir
cumstances meet the same hearty re-
sponse from the German people which
such an appeal otherwise is certain TO
find her. If the German government,
nevertheless, is resolved to go TO the
utmost limit of concessions, II has
been guided not alone by the friend
ship connecting the two great nations
for over one hundred years, but also
by the thought of the great boom
which threatens the entire civilized
world should the cruel and sanguinary
war be extended and prolonged.
Want to Preserve Peace
THE German government, conscious
of Germany's strength, twice within
the last few months announced be-
fore the world its readiness to make
peace on a basis safeguarding Ger
manys vital interests, thus indicating
that it is not Germanys fault If peace
is still withheld from the nations OF
Europe. The German government
feels all the more justified in declaring
that responsibility could not be borne
before the forum OF mankind and in
history If after twenty-one months of
the wars duration the submarine
question under discussion between the
German government and the govern
ment of the United States were . to
take a turn seriously threatening
maintenance of peace between the two
nations.
LAS far as lies with the German
government, 1t wishes to prevent
things from taking such a course.
The German government, moreover.
is prepared to do its utmost to confinc
operations of the war for the rest of
its duration to the fighting forces of
the belligerents, thereby also insur-
ing freedom of the seas. a principle
upon which the German government
believes, now ass before that 1t is in