Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-20

| by imposing upon him an adequate
| punishment, coupled with formal
dlsavowal of the act and payment OF
a suitable Indemnity by the imperial
government But. though the attack
upon the Sussex was manifestly inde-
| fcnsible and caused a loss OF life so
traRcal as to make II stand forth as
one of the most terrible examples OF
the inhumanty OF submarine warfare.
as the commanders OF German ves-
sells are conducting IL, IL unhappily
does not stand alone
German Action Deliberate.
'On the contrary the government
OF the United states is forced by re-
cent events TO conclude that II Is only
one instance, even though one OF the
most extreme and most distressing In
stances of the deliberate method and
spirit of discriminate destruction OF
merchant vessels of all sorts. nation
alties and destinations which have
become more and more unmistakable
as the activity of German undersca
vessels of war has in recent months
been quickoned and extended.
The imperial government win re-
call that when, In February. 1915. 1t
announced its intention of treating tha
waters surrounding Great Britain ana
ireland as embraced within the seat
of war and of destroying all mer-
chant ships owned by 1t enemies that
might he found within that zone OF
danger. and warned all scsss'r neu-
ttal as well as bcllgcrert, t. Keep nut
of the waters thus prescribed. CT 10
enter them at their peril the govern-
ment of the United States earnestly
protested. II took the position that
such IA policy could not he pursued
without constant gross and palpable
violations of the accepted law of ma
tions particularly If submarine craft
We're to be employed as Its nstru-
ments. inasmuch as the rules pre-
scribed by that law. rules founded on
the principles OF humanity and estab-
llshed for the protection of the lives
OF non-combatants ut sea, could not
In the nature Of the case be observed
by such vessels. II bases its protest
on the ground that persons of neutral
nationality and vessels of neutral own
ership would be exposed TO extreme
and intolcrable rislts; and that no
right to close any part of the high
seas could lawfully be asserted by the
imperial government in the eircum-
stances then existing, The law of ma
tions In these matters upon which the
government of the United States based
that protest is not of recent origin or
founded upon merely arbitrary prln-
c,pies set up by convention. II IL
based. on the contrary. upon manifest
principles OF humanity and has long
been established with the approval
and by the express assent Of all CIV
lized nations.
Persisted In Policy.
"The imperial government. notwith-
standing persisted in carrying out
the policy announced, expressing the
hope that the dangers involved. at any
rate to neutral vessels. would be re-
duced To minimum by the instrnc-
lions which It had issued TO the COM
manders of its submarines, and assur-
ing the government of the United
states that 1t would take every pos
stble precaution both to respect the
rights OF neutrals and to safeguard
the lives OF non-combatants.
IN pursuance of this policy of sub
marine warfare against the commerce
of its adversaries. thus announced and
thus entered upon in spite Of the sol
emn protest of the government OF the
United States. the commanders of the
imperial governments undersea ves-
sells have carried on practices of such