Evening journal., 1916-04-20

conducting ii. It unhappily does not
stand alone
Sussex Case Only One Instance.
On the contrary, the government
Of the United States is forced by re-
cent events to conclude that It is only
one instance. even though one of the
most extreme and most distressing
instances, of the deliberate method
and spirit of indiscriminate dcstruc-
tion of merchant vessels of all sorts.
natiOnalities, and destinations which
have become moro and more unmis-
taxable as the activity of German
undersea vessels of war has I'm recent
months been quickcned and extended.
The Imperial government will re-
call that when. in February. 1915, it
announced It's intentions OF treating
the waters surrounding Great Britain
and Ireland as embraced within the
seat of war and of destroying all mer-
chant ships owned by its enemies
thct might be found within that zone
of danger. and warned all vessels,
neutral as well as belligerent to keep
out OF the waters thus prescribed or
TO enter them at their peril, the gov
ernment OF the United States earnest
ly protested. Il took the position that
such a policy could not be pursued
without constant gross and palpable
violations of the accepted law of NO
tions. particularly If submarine craft
were to be employed as its instru-
ments. inasmuch as the rules pre-
scribed by Il at law, rules founded ON
the principles of humanity and estab-
lished for the protection OF lives
of nOn-combntants at sea, could not
il the nature OF the case be preserv-
ed by such vessels. II based its pro-
test on the ground that persons of
neutral nationality and vessels Of neu-
trail ownership would be exposed to
extreme and intolorable risks; and
that no right TO close any part of the
high seas could lawfully be asserted
by the Imperial government In the
circumstances then existing. The law
of nations I'm these matters, upon
which the government of the United
States based that protest. Is not of re-
cent origin or founded upon merely
arbitrary principles set up by conven-
ton II Is based. on the contrary,
upon manifest principles Of humanity
and has long been established with
sont OF all civilized nations.
Ignores Protest Of U. 8.
The imperial government, uotwith-
standing, persisted In carrying out
the policy announced. expressing the
hope that the dangers involved, at
any rate to neutral vessels, would
be reduced to a minimum by the In
structions which II had Issued TO
the commanders OF its submarines,
and assuring the government of the
United States that Il would take
every possible precautlon both TO
respect the rights of neutrala and TO
safeguard the lives OF non-combat-
ants.
In pursuance OF this policy OF sub
marine warfare against the commerce
OF It's adversaries, thus announced
and thus entered upon IN despite Of
the solemn protest OF the government
Of the United States, the commanders
Of the Imperial governments undersea
vessels have carried on practices OF
such ruthless destruction which have
made Il more and more evident as
the months have gone by that the I'M
perial government has found II Inn
practicable to put any such restraints
upon them as It had hoped and prom
ised 10 put. Again and again the
Imperial government has given its
solemn assurances TO the government
Of the United States that at least pas
senger ships would not be thus dealt
with. npd yet It has repeatedly per
mitted its undersea commanders to
disree ard those assurances with en-
tire impunity. As recently as Feb
ruary last II gave notice that Il would
regard all armed merchantmen own
ed b. it's enemies as part o. the arm
ed naval forces of its adversaries and
deal with them as with men-Of-war
thus at least. by implication pledging
itself to give warning to vessels which
were not armed and to accord Sc
curity Of life to their passengers and.
crew: but even this limitation their
submarine commanders have reck-
lessly ignored.
Even Neutral Ships We're Destroyed.
Vessels Of neutral ownership. even