Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-01-04
LET CONGRESS ACT.

in the case Of the destruction of the
British liner Persia which was being
used by the British government as a
transport and, in addition, was
armed We hope that the report Is
an error and that Congress win take
hand and calls a halt, before it
comes that far that the President
sends another insulting note to
Vienna Bernard H. Ridder says in
connection with the Persia incident
The facts Of the Persia incident,
so far as they have been received in
this country, are entirely insufficient
to base any such overnight decision
upon them. They are to meagre
even to permit of definite discussion.
About all we know is that the Persia
was sunk Why she was sent to the
bottom, and under what circumstan-
ces, are questions which remain to
be answered. We must await the
answer before taking any official ac-
tion in the matter. There are prin-
ciples involved, however which may
correctly be alluded to even before
the full details Of the incident are at
hand.
The Persia was a British vessel.
It is to be presumed, therefore, that
if she was torpedoed at all she was
torpedoed by a Teuton submarine.
What were the possible extenuating
circumstances, if any, which attached
to the act of the submarine COM
mander?
1t Is admitted that the Persia was
in fact transport She had aboard
many soldiers, though "all were
rtVixy q oil
cording TO Admiralty announce
ment" What law of nations per-
mits a belligerent to send its armed
forces through the lines OF another
in mufti2 What law of nations
would have interposed itself between
the hammock and the yardarm for
any one of these many soldiers
had the Persia been overhauled by
an enemy cruiser instead of sub
marine, and they had been hung for
having been found within enemy
lines without their uniforms? The
practice OF sending troops in civilian
clothing from post to post in war
time is q novel invention of the in
genious British Government. 1t does
not hold in law 1t is comparable
only with the practice of mixing
American babies and British bullets
in the same cargo, and holding that
the former render the latter immune
from destruction
The German and Austro-Hungar-
ian Governments have stated that
the sacred commandments of human
ity must be observed also in war"
They have stated that private ships,
in so far as they do not offer resist
ance. may not be destroyed without
the persons aboard being brought
into safety" They have admitted, in
other words, all that Is required by
q true sense Of humanity and a just
Interpretation Of the law Of nations
They have not admitted. however,
the right Of the President Of the
United States TO dictate what that
law shall be. They are not required
to. When it was suggested to Mr.
Wilson that he stop the expectation
from this country Of excessive and
unheard Of amounts of war material
to all belligerents alike he sde-step-
ped the issue on the ground that he
could not change his policy after the
inception Of conflict When, how
ever he desired to give the screws
another turn on the thumbs Of the
Central Empires there was no such
restriction OF compunction observ-
able.
We must wait until we have the
full facts Of the case at hand before
condemning Austria Hungary or Ger
many for the sinking of the Persia;
but in the meantime we can well ask
ourselves if it is not within the right
and duties of the Congress to in
terest itself in the olucidation OF cer-
tain questions repeatedly brought to
the fore by such Incidents
Why, for example, have American
citizens not been forewarned against
travelling through enemy infested
seas on belligerent vessels? The
present Administration has warned
American citizens of the dangers at
taching to residence in Mexico. Other
Administrations have frequently
warned American citizens Of the dan
ger attaching to continued presence
in lawless districts in China and else
where Why have Mr.. Wilson and
mis- advisers been less alive to the
dangers OF travelling on British
transports and munitions ships
through waters known to be popu-
lated by enemy submarines than to
the dangers to be expected from
Mexican mob?
What law, besides that written by
Mr.. Wilson and his advisers, makes
The presence on an enemy ship of a
single American citizen a source Of
protection to that ship from attack?
It has been reported that induce
lnents have been held out by British
lines to Americans to travel on their
vessels. It is we'll known that Amer
leans have been forced to take pas
sage on British vessels because OF
the illegal interference by British
authorities with the sailings of other
and neutral vessels. What is there
to prevent Great Britain from en-
! ploying American seamen on her
transports what TO prevent her
/ from enlisting American sailors for
/ the wooden walls of England" as
She has enlisted American troops to
I light her battles on land? Does the
! Administration presume to assert the
fright of Questioning the proper de-
struction OF a British dreadnought
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