The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-11-01
A MARINA "DISAvowAL"

The German embassy in Washing
ton indicates that Berlin will disavow
the sinking Of the Marina, il the Of
fetal facts bear out early informa-
ton. 1t appears that the vessel was
not in admiralty service; was not
armed; was sailing outward from
England; was not warned before be-
ing attacked; was not given any OPP
portunity at all to provide safety for
her crew; was torpedoed in a nasty
sea, which was probably responsible
for the loss of lives.
If these facts shall all be sup
ported by the official investigation,
the pledge given in the case of the
Lusitania has been violated in about
every way possible. That same thing
was done, however, in the case of the
Sussex. Berlin put up a hocus
pocus defense in that case, whose
insincerity was manifest; and when
complete information compelled it to
accept the statement of the case as
made up after investigation by the
Washington Government, Berlin dis
avowed, and promised punishment of
the submarine commander.
Was the punishment ever admin
istered? Nobody knows. Secretary
lansing so recently as yesterday
stated that his inquiries of the Ber-
lin government, as to what specific
punishment had been applied, had
brought no response. Certain it is
that whatever nominal punishment
may ever have been inflicted on any
German submarine commander, Ger
man public opinion makes Of these
officers heroes; it lionizes them just
about in proportion to the measure
of the excuses they have commit
ted. At best, punishment of a COM
mander who has violated a rule is
not very satisfactory to people who
have been killed. A disavowal in
the Marina case will not restore the
lives of the Americans-ando other
people-who lost their lives. It is
impossible, in the circumstances that
surround the Marina affair, to be-
lieve that the submarine commander
could have made a mistake. 1t is
impossible to believe that he could
have done what he did do, otherwise
than deliberately. 1t is impossible
to believe he would have done it de-
liberately. if he had not been morally
certain that his government would
not impose real punishment.
In the case of the Lusitania, Ger
many provided plenty of justifica-
ton for the belief that submarine
commanders need not worry about
the home governments attitude. For
the German government officially ad-
vertised, over the signature of the
embassy in Washington, warning
people to avoid ships of the Lusi-
tania's class, as they were liable to
be torpedoed. Germany has not dis
avowed that attack. There has been
some exchange of communications
including at least one from Germany
that came many months ago and has
not yet been made public and will
not be made public. There is the
very best reason for the understand
ing that Germany regretted and
promised indemnity, but did not ad-
nit the illegality of this act; and
that the United States Government
accepted this.
If that be the status Of the Lusi-
tania affair, then there is no reason
why Berlin should assume that il
needs do more in the Marina case
than regret and offer to pay indem-
nifty. 1t will doubtless require
months to bring the thing to an
issue. Meanwhile the failure of this
Government to take effective action
will remove one more bar to com.
plete terrorism of the seas. Ger,
many pretends not to be engaging
in unrestricted summarizing; but the
difference between her present cam,
paign and one without restriction
would be slight.
1t can safely be assumed that II
the accepted German communication
on the Lusitania ease had been ar
acceptable communication-and beer
one that the Administration dareC
give to the public before election
there would have been no Marins
case. There would have been ne
Sussex case. The present practically
unbridled submarine warfare would
not have been possible.
President Wilson's managers ar,
making their last grand drive fol-
success on the plea that he "kept III
out of war" Yet his Administra
ton does not publish the note tina
seems to have closed the Lusitani;
case; while in the Sussex anc
Marina cases Germany proceeds t,
acts which cannot be forgiven unless