The Keota news. (Keota, Weld County, Colo.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-28

this government and the other neu-
trail governments Of the world that II
eminent of Great Britain had armed
all merchant vessels OF British owner
ship. and had given them secret or
enemy they might encounter upon the
seas. and that the imperial German
government felt justified In the cir
cumstances in treating all merchant
men OF bsiligcrent ownership AS aux
Hilary vessels OF war. which II would
have the right to destroy without
warning.
Gesnasy Sets Aside Law Of Nations.
The law OF nations has long recog
Missed the right OF merchantmen to
carry arms for protection and to use
them to repel attacks. to use them In
such circumstances at their own risk:
but the imperial German government
standings aside under circumstances
which II deemed extraordinary.
Even the terms In which Il an.
n"uneed i,s purpose thu, s;ili further
oLsly professcd Its willingness and do
sire to put upon the operations of Its
submarines carried the plain impiica-
not armed would be exempt from de.
struction without warning and that
personal safety would be accorded
their passengers and crews: but even
that Limitation. u II was ever practi.
cable to observe II. has In fact constI-
tnted no check Mt all upon the de.
ntruction Of ships OF every sort.
Again and again the imperial Ger
man government has given this gov.
eminent Its solemn assurances that ut
least passenger ships would not be thus
dealt with; and yet II has again and
again permitted It's undcrxea comma nd
crs to disregard those assurances with
entire impunity.
Refess to the Losltaais Outrage.
Great liners like the Lusitnnia and
the Arabic. and mere ferry. boats like
the sussex. have been attacked with.
b. fore they had even become aware
that they were In the presence Of nm
armed vessel OF the enemy. and the
lives OF non -combatants, passengers
snle In manner which the govern
mcnt OF the United States cannot but
regard ms wanton and without the
30 limit OF any Kind saa in fac,
been set to tho indiscriminntc pursuit
and destruction OF merchantmen OF al!
kinds and naticnaiitics within tho wa
where these operations have been car.
who have lost their lives on ship. thus
attacked ,,.n,s and DESTROYED has grown.
Toll has mounted into tho hundreds.
Ssssex Case Rivals l.ssssssgs.
Ono OF the latest and most shocking
instances OF this method of warfare
WAS that of the destruction Of the
french cross.chnnnel steamer sussex.
~ must stand forth aS tho sinking of
the steamer Lusitania did. ms 40 sing.
ularly tragical and unjustifiabie aa to
constitute a truly terrible example o!
~ the commanders OF German vessels
have FOR the last twelve months been
conducting Il.
n this Incident stood alone some cx.
IL
man government. some evidence OF
criminal mistake or eilful disobc, ,ienc
on the part , OF the commander OF tho
sought or entertained: but. uuhnnniiv
1: does not stand alone.
recent events make the concjus,on
inevitable that II is only one instance,
even though II be one or the most or.
IRENE and distressing instances, OF the
spirit and method OF warfare which
IN. inc, imperial German government has
the first exposed that government to
the rcproach OF thrusttng ali neutral
rights aside In pursuit Of It's immedi.
ate object.
1sised states Hss Hoped .. vain,
the government of the United state.
o, I'M. distressing experience Of trss.
cdy alter tragedy In which n. nwp
eltisens were involved. 1t has sought
course Of action or OF protest he y
thouyhtful consideration OF the extra.
ordinary circumstances OF this unnrc.
eeoented war. and actuated In all that
l. said or did by the sentiments nf
genuine fr isndship which the peonic Of
the United states always have enter.
ta1neu and continue to entertain
toward the German nation
1t has. of course, accented ~. 49,.
cessive explanations and assurances Of
the imperial German government as
siveh IN entire sincerity and rood
'"'"' anu mas hoped. even against