TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1916-03-03
CHICAGO TRIBUNE.)
Thursday, March End
ARMED MERcHANTsiEN.

The present issue between the Ger
man government and our own respecting
the conduct Of submarine operations
seems to be this; Shall German sub
marines concede 10 armed merchantmen
Of the enemy the first shot because
citizens OF the United States have
elected to travel on such merchantmen
The structure of the submarine Is
and at this stage of its development
must be such that the first properly
directed shot is virtually certain to be
the last, in that only one shot, even
that of one FOUNDER, is fatal to the
Submarine.
Put In another form, the issue ID
whether a merchantman armed suffi.
ciently to destroy submarine with
one shot is defensively or extensively
armed.
Under a rule formulated before the
creation OF the submarine the presence
of relatively small gun is held con.
sistent with the presumption Of defen.
sive armament.
That rule was founded on the facts.
A small gun could not seriously injure
a warship. 1t could not be made often
sivc ut the will OF the commander Of the
merchantmen summoned to surrender.
The rule does not square with the
facts Of the submarine. The principle
upon which the rule is founded does not
apply to them. A one FOUNDER can
destroy a submarine. The presumption
that such a gun will be used only IN
defense must rest entirely upon the will
OF the commander or his instructions.
The position now taken by our govern
ment therefore is that German sub.
marine approaching British, French, or
Italian merchantmen which carries a
gum capable Of destroying such sub
marine shall challenge the merchantmen
to surrender and accept the hazard OF
destruction.
Furthermore, the presence of defen-
sive armament on merchantmen was
justified by facts now nonexistent---
namely, the practice OF privateering and
the existence Of pirates. As pirates
lave disappeared from European waters
and privateering is no longer permissible
under international law, no presumption
Of defense can attach to the presence of
guns on merchantmen.
Enemy ships consist OF only two
kinds, combatant and noncombatant. If
a slip is noncombatant it will not be
equipped to combat. II ship il equipped
with armament sufficient TO destroy an
enemy warship, as in the case OF a
merchantmen mounting a six inch, four
inch, or one FOUNDER gun, such
merchantmen having no use for such
armament except against enemy craft,
II cannot claim the character OF an
"nnarmed" merchantmen, but should he
held what in fact it Is, q combatant
ship.
The object Of any armament on a
slip of the belligerents Is one and one
only, TO use against enemy warships -
TO be explicit, the submarine. II is
therefore an armed ship and the distinc-
ton ne TO defensive and offensive arina.
nent, founded on the practice OF priya'
tccring and piracy, and having no appli'
cation to use against enemy war craft,
Is not involved.
This is the issue as between Great
Britain and Germany.
What is the issue between the United
States and Cerinanyf il is whether the
right Of citizens to travel on unarmed
ships Of belligerent nationality
Is right TO travel on merchant ships OF
ureat Britain armed in fact against
German submarines.
Or, put in another way, the issue is:
poes the presence OF Americans on a
lsritish ship compel German submarine
10 allow the British ship TO pass or by
it accept the hazard OF
II this were conceded Great Britain
by mounting guns on its merchantmen
and Americans By travelling on them
can insure such part of the British
merchant marine from otherwise lawful
by Germany against what
are in fact armed and therefore com
bntant enemy craft.
The object Of arining the allies
craft is to protect them from
capture or destruction by German or
Austrian submarines. Such destruction
Ia OF great Importance 70 the central
powers in their conduct Of the war and
q legitimate Measure Of sea warfare.
British shipping is conveying necessary
supplies to the allies. The interruption
Of this service is Of great II not vital
Importance to the central powers. II
L Is to the interest OF tile United states
t9 insure this supply, the government
SHOULD do so as an ally and not under
the pretense Of defending neutrality.
nj &.1 rf..l@ NJ