The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1916-04-28
THE SUBMARINE QUESTION


did year or more ago, that the use of
the submarines without warning and
without care for the safety of passeng.
ers is inhuman, and contrary to the es
tablished rules of warfare. and that the
United States speaking for itself and for
all neutral nations, will not countenance
such warfare.
He further asserts that Germany has
shown bad faith in that while Germany
after the ''Lusitana" affair promised not
to sink ships without warning, has con-
tinued to do so, rather increasing than
decreasing the number of ships thus at.
tackled.
The Pioneer Express has previously
discussed this submarine question but
in the renewed interest in this issue, we
venture to repeat some observations al
ready expressed in this paper.
First, we agree with the President that
Germany has apparently paid bnt very
little it any attention to it's promises in
the use of submarines. While until
few weeks sago the sinking of the trans
channel steamer "Sussex" the loss of life
of persons of American citizenship had
been small as we'll as the loss generally,
yet the number of ships sunk was rather
increasing than lessening. And as a
matter of fact the loss of the life of "a few
Americans is just as much a matter of
nternationl significance as if larger
number were sacrificed. 1t is not the
number of lives but the general prin-
ciple that is the question.
The whole question comes to this,
is the use of submarines inhuman and
is such use contrary to the established
rules of warfare?
But when we say "established rules
we must admit that there is doubt as
to whether there are any established
rules to submarine fighting. Sub.
marines are new weapon, and invented
since the established rules" we're agreed
upon.
The question then is, is the use OF the
submarine illegitimate?
The chief value of the submarine is in
its secret action. If the submarine must
appear in plain view before acting what
object or advantage is there in it's power
of diving? An ocean liner with couple
of rifled cannon after once seeing sub
marine is fair match for the submarine.
England has declared blockade
against Germany and the only means
that Germany has to retailate is to use
its submarines.
In this we are not trying to say that
the use of submarines is or is not in
human, we are only trying to show that
there are two sides to the question, and
what the result might be in carrying the
doctrine of humanity to the extreme,
which almost certainly would prohibit
the use of the submarine as a war wea-
pom. AS against ships of war, there is
no question of humanity, but so far as
the submarines have not done much
damage to such vessels.
The United States is also building
submarines. if they cannot be used in
case of war we better save the money.
The fact is that science is every day |
hunting up more and more war weapons
that are Questionable on account of
humanity. The more destructive tho
better the weapon, but the worse for
humanity.
We can see very little difference be.
tween tho dropping Of bombs from the
aeroplanes on sleeping village and the
sinking Of vessel by submarine.
While it is true that the bomb 10 drop.
ped on an enemies country, yet it is
quite possible that On American citizen
or even On American ambassador might
be Victims.