Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1916-05-12


tho reply to the American note on sub
marine warfare.
were given or executed in good faith.
Errors actually occurred. They can
in no kind be avoided altogether. Al
lowances must be made in the con-
duct Of naval warfare against an enc.
my resorting to all kinds of ruses,
whether permissible or illicit.
Implies Dangers For Neutrais.
But apart from the possibility of
errors, naval warfare Just like war
fare on land, implies unavoidable
dangers for neutral persons and goods
entering the fighting zones. Even in
cases where the naval action is con.
fined to ordinary forms of cruiser
warfare. neutral persons and goods re-
peatedly come to grief.
The German government has re-
peatedly and explicitly pointed out
the dangers from mines that have
led to the loss of numerous ships.
v. s. Blamed For Accidents"
"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
of naval warfare. Unfortunately, the
government Of the United States de-.
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
of the accidents that American citi.
zens have met with in the meantime.
THE German government still stands
by its offer to come to an agreement
along these lines.
Cannot Dispense With U-Roats.
"As the German government repeat
edly declared, it cannot dispense with
the use Of the submarine weapon in
the conduct of warfare against ene-
my trade. The German government,
however, has now decided to make a
further concession, adapting methods
of submarine war to the interests of
neutrals.
I'm reaching this decision the Ger
man government is actuated by con-
siderations which are above the level
Of the disputed question.
Helped Develop Laws.
The German government attaches
| no less Importance to the sacred prin-
ciples of humanity than the govern
ment Of the United States. 1t again
fully takes into account that both
Governments for many years coop.
Grated in developing international law
In conformity with these principles,
the ultimate object Of which has al
ways been to conffne warfare on sea
| and land to armed forces of belliger-
ents and safeguard, as far as possible
noncombatants against the horrors
of war. But although these consid-
erations are of great weight, they
alone would not, under present circum-
stances, have determined the attitude
Of the German government.
| BIames British Government.
For in answer to the appeal by the
government of the United States on
behalf Of the sacred principles Of hui
manity and international law, the Ger.
man government must repeat once
more, will all emphasis, that 1t was
not the German but the British gov
ernment which ignored all accepted
rules of international law and ex-
tended this terrible war to the lives
and property Of noncombatants, hav-
ing no regard whatever for the in
terests and rights Of neutrals and
noncombatants that through this meth.
cd Of warfare have been severely in
jured.
"In selfdefense against the illegal
conduct of British warfare while fight.
ing bitter struggle for national exist.
ence, Germany had to resort to the
hard but effective weapon of submar.
inc warfare.
v. s. Attempts Failed.
Several attempts made by the gov
ernment Of the United States to pre-.
vail upon the British government to
act accordingly failed because of q
fiat refusal on the part of the British
government. Moreover, Great Brit
ain again and again has violated In
ternational law SURPRISING all bounds
in outraging neutral rights. The lat
est measure adopted by Great Britain
declaring German bunker coal contra
band. and establishing eondidtions un
der which English bunker coal alone