The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-05-12

tanned in the declaration Of February
5. 1916.
The German government cannot ad
NIT any doubt that these orders were
given or are executed in good faith
Errors actually occurred. They can
in no kind of warfare be avoided al
together Allowance must be made
In the conduct OF naval warfare
against any enemy resorting to all
kinds OF ruses, whether permissible
or Illicit.
"But apart from the possibility OF
errors, naval warfare, just like war,
fare on land, implies unavoidable dan.
gers for neutral persons and goods
entering the fighting zone. Even in
cases where the naval action is con.
fined to ordinary forms Of cruiser
warfare, neutral persons and goods
repeatedly come to grief.
"The German government has made
several proposals to the government
Of the United States in order to re-
duce to minimum for American trav-
elers and goods the inherent dangers
OF naval warfare. Unfortunately the
government of the United States de-
cided not to accept the proposals Had
II accepted, the government of the
United States would have been in
strumental in preventing the greater
part of the accidents that American
citizens have met with in the mean.
time.
The German government still
stands by its offer to come 10 an
agreement along these lines
AS the German government repeat.
eddy declared, 1t cannot dispense with
the use of the submarine weapon in
the conduct Of warfare against enemy
trade. The German government, how
ever, has now decided to make fur
Their concession, adopting methods of
submarine war to the interests of
neutrals.
"I9 reaching this decision the Ger
man government is actuated by con-
sidesations which are above the level
of disputed questions.
"The German government attaches
no less importance to the sacred prin.
ciples of humanity than the govern
ment of the United States. 1t again
fully takes into account that both gov.
ernments for many years co-operated
in developing international law in
conformity with these principles, the
ultimate object of which has always
been to confine warfare on sea and
land to armed forces of belligerents
and safeguard as far as possible non
combatants against the horrors Of war
But, although these considerations
are of great weight, they alone would
not, under present circumstances,
have determined the attitude of the
German government For In answer
to the appeal by the government of
the United States on behalf of the
sacred principles of humanity and in
tcrnational law, the German govern
ment must repeat once more with all
emphasis that 1t was not the German
but the British government which
ignored all accepted rules OF inter-
national law and extended this terrible
war to the lives and property of non
combatants, having no regard what
ever for the interests and rights OF
neutrals and non-combatants that
through this method of warfare have
been severely injured.
an selfdefense against the Illegal
conduct of British warfare, while
fighting bitter struggle for national
existence, Germany had to resort to
the hard but effective weapon Of sub
marine warfare.
"As matters stand, the German gov
eminent cannot but reiterate regret
that the sentiments Of humanity which
the government OF the United States
extends with such fervor TO the un-
happy victims of submarine warfare
are not extended with the same
warmth of feeling to many millions
of women and children who, accord |
ing to the avowed intention OF the |
British government, shall be starved, |
and who, by sufferings, shall force |
the victorious armies of the central |
powers into ignominous capitulation.
The German government In agreement
with the German people fails TO un-
derstand this discrimination, all the |
more as II has repeatedly and ex-
plicitly declared itself ready to use
the submarine weapon In strict con-
formity with the rules OF international
law as recognized before the outbreak |
Of the war, II Great Britain likewise
was ready to adapt the conduct OF !
warfare to these rules.
Several attempts made by the gov
eminent of the United States to pre-
vail upon the British government to
act accordingly failed because Of fat
refusal on the part Of the British gov
eminent. Moreover, Great Britain /
again and again has violated interna-
tional law, SURPRISING all bounds In
outraging neutral rights. The latest
adopted by Great Britain de-
claring German bunker coal contra
band and establishing conditions un-
der which English bunker coal alone
Is supplied to neutrals is nothing but
an unheard-of attempt by way Of exac-
ton to force neutral tonnage into the
service OF British trade war.
"The German people know that the
Of the United States has
the power to confine the war to armed
forces OF the beiligerent countries, in
the interest Of humanity and mainte-
nance of international law. The gov
eminent of the United States could
have been certain Of obtaining this end
had It been determined to insist,
against Great Britain, on the incon-
trovertible rights 10 freedom of the
seas. But as matters stand, the Ger
man people is under the impression