The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-05-10
duct of warfare to these rules.

Government. Moreover Great Britain
again and again has violated interna-
tional law, surprising all bounds In
outraging neutral rights. The latest
measure, adopted by Great Britain
declaring German bunker coal contra
band and establishing conditions un-
der which English bunker coal alone
is supplied to neurtals is nothing but
an unheard-of attempt by way of
exaction to force neutral tonnage in
to the service of British trade war"
Again Criticises United States.
"The German people know that the
Government of the United States has
the power to confne the war to arm
ed forces of the belligerent countries,
in the interest of humanity and main
tenance of international law. The
Government 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 i'm
preston that the Government of the
United States, while demanding that
Germany, struggling for existnece,
shall restrain the use of an effective
weapon and while making compliance
with these demands a condition for
maintenance of relations with Ger
many confines itself to protests
against illegal methods adopted by
Germany's enemies. Moreover, the
German people know to what consid-
cradle extent its enemies are supplied
with all kinds of war material from
the United States"
Doom to Civilized World Should War
Be Prolonged. =.
"It 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
circumstances meet the same hearty
response from the German people
which such an appeal otherwise al
ways is certain to find here. If the
German Government, nevertheless, is
resolved to 60 to the utmost limit of
concessions, it has been guided not
alone by the friendship connecting
the two great nations for over one
hundred years but also by the thought
of the great doom which threatens
the entire civilized world should this
cruel and sanguinary war be extend
ed and prolonged"
Twice Tried to Bring About Peace.
"The German Government consci-
Gus of Germany's strength twice
within the last few months announ-
ced before the worlu its readiness to
make peace on basis safeguarding
Germany's vital interests, thus indi-
eating that it is not Germany's fault
if peace is still withheld from the Ma
tions of Europe. The German Gov
ernment feels all the more justified
in declaring that responsibility could
not be borne before the forum of
mankind and in history if after Fl
months of the wars duration the SUBJ
marine question under discussion be-
tween the German Government and
the Government of the United States
were to take a turn seriously threat
ening maintenance of peace between
the two nations.
Will Not Attack Neutral Ships.
GAS far as lies with the German
Government, it wishes to prevent
things from taking such a course.
The German Government, moreover,
is prepared to do its utmost to con-
fine operations of the war for the rest
of its duration to the fighting forces
of the belligerents, thereby also in
suring freedom of the seas, a princi-
pie upon which the German Govern
ment believes, now as before, that it
is in agreement with the Government
of the United States.
Shall Not Be Sunk Without Warning.
"The German Government, guided
by this idea, notifies the Governemnt
of the United States that German ma
val forces have received the following
order: I'm accordance with the gen.
eral principles of visit and search and
the destruction of the merchant YES
sells recognized by international law
such vessels, both within and without
the area declared a naval war zone,
shall not be sunk without warning
and without saving human lives un-
less the ship attempt to escape or
offer resistance
Introduce Restrictions.
But for neutrals cannot expect
that Germany, forced to fight for ex-
istence, shall, for the sake of neutral
Interests, restrict the use of an effec-
tive weapon if the enemy is permitted
to continue to apply at will methods
of warfare violating rules of interna-
tional law. Such a demand would be
incompatible with the character of
neutrality and the German Govern
ment is convinced that the Govern
ment of the United States does not
think of making such a demand,
knowing that the Government of the
United States repeatedly declares
that it is determined to restore the
principle of freedom of the seas, from
whatever quarter it has been violat-
ed."
Accordingly the German Govern
ment is confident that in consequence
of the new orders isued to the naval
forces the Government of the United
States will also now consider all i'm
pediments removed which may have
been in the way of mutual co-opera-
t;or torpord rac+oration of tho free