Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-02-29

Sefill-SnolIltrle ia IN tur5er 3eit oen
Meltmorft eroberu penn iie lmbes
icbrdnftc Guontitdten Oeuti6er 5arb.
| itofic crbultcu fonutc.
THE SUBMARINE AND AMER
loan INTERESTS"
The extraordinary situation that
has developed in Washington gives
the country ample food for thaught
and discussion. The press OF the
nation Is called upon to express its
opinion ON the relative merits in the
controversy of the Presidents POI
sition and the position Of the Com
| gress. Where the greater part OF the
/ New York Press stands we would
know in advance. 1t has always
been consistently for American rights
! when they coincided with British ad-
| vantage and just as consistently for
concessions when such harmonized
with its own or British policies. But
the position Of the New York news
, papers Is not more representative of
the general press attitude through
out the country than is the Presi-
dents position representative of the
nation at large In the submarine
question and many other questions
in connection with the European
war. Some OF our Baltimore news
papers have shown OF late that Ia
regard 70 the arming OF merchant
men they are not in accord with the
hyphenated New York press or with
the President The same Is true Of
many influential newspapers OF the
middle west The Chicago Tribune
in a leader, Of the 24th instant has
this to say
We do not believe anyone under
stands what the Administration Is
trying to accomplish by its sub
marine policy. Congressman, even
the Democratic leaders OF Congress,
confess that they are both perplexed
and afraid. Again war is being
spoken Of in Washington. The Presi-
dent Is losing the support OF prom
inent men in his party, but the issue
is not defined and purposes are not
apparent Mr.. Wilson has made fre-
Quent confession of his fears, and
the Congressman say that the situ-
alton is one OF great seriousness, but
the nation cannot understand ii. A
declaration of intent ought TO be
made. II is incomprehensible that
the country should be exposing itself
to danger again on an issue Of ar
mament on merchant vessels.
The policy Of this country has
been one of strange hostility to the
submarine. 1t Is weapon partic-
ularly designed for the use OF such
a nation as the United States, which
regards its military preparations as
defensive, and is likely never to find
them adequate in emergency
1T has been our policy TO read in
ternational law strictly when the |
question was one Of restricting the |
operations OF the submarine We |
have admitted, in the case ofs the |
British blockade not only OF Ger
many but Of neutral ports through |
which Germany might be supplied, |
that the submarine has changed in 7
ternational law, but, with that pre-
cedent, we have refused to make !
concessions in favor Of the new I
method Of marine operations.
Eve concede that the close Gordon
which was demanded by internation-
al law to make blockade effective |
could not be maintained. We agreed |
that long distance blockade should /
be regarded ns an effective blockade. |
Our Administration thus confessed
that laws which had been framed be-
fore the submarine was known for
what it is did not apply Now II is
question of admitting that usage
aud regulations which permit peace
able ships to carry guns for defensive I
purposes cannot apply, but the Ad-
minibtration, having faltered mo-
ment, declines to agree to this. III (
law can be altered to protect blocl-
aiding cruisers from the submarine,
1t can be altered to protect sub
marines from peaceable ships We
cannot honestly be indulgent in one
particular and precise In the other
We seem obsessed with the idea that /
q submarine is piratical craft. we
always think Of it. in relation to the
sinking Of the Lusitania, and seem
seldom If ever to think Of 1t as
boat best suited for the defense Of a
great shore line.
IA gun Of very small calibre can
sink submarine If the under-sea
boat cxposea itself We do not in
sist that the peacable ship maintain
it's peaceable character We insist
that the submarine shall take a
chance that the peaceablc ship sud
denly VIII assume belligcrent char
acter and fire on it, II does not up
pear that this serves American in
terests. Some day. in time OF peril.
the United States may put a great
deal Of reliance on submarines, and
we may regret that we have been
compromised by the policies defined
in 1915 and 1916. 1t is the thought
that American interests are being I
by insistence upon for
mulae OF law that disconcerts many
Americans. This may not be true
II may be that the Administration
has q real strategical scheme back OF
a policy which thus far has remained
inexplicable. II must be the hope OF
Americans that such is the case.
That II may be that the Administra-
tion is watching only the wider cur
rents in the struggle and has decided