Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-07-12
FOOLISHl

In an article, evidently inspired
from the White House, the New
York World says.
AS q lesson in neutrality, the ap-
pearance Of a German submarine
merchantmen in an American harbor
is as important as the achievement
in construction and navigation. The
errand Of this undersea blockade
runner proves the falsity OF all that
the Junker press Of Germany and its
satellites in this country have said as
to the nature Of our traffic with Great
Britain, Franco and Russia.
The Deutschland arrives with a
small but valuable cargo Of dyestuffs
It is said that she will return with
nickel and rubber, commodities sore
ly needed in Germany. If conditions
were such as to make it desirable
that she should carry firearms and
explosives, there would be no inter-
ference with such a shipment.
One submarine merchantman has
therefore put to rout the whole in
ternational claque which for months
has maliciously misrepresented the
attitude of the American Government
and people. If others come, as is the
promise, the demonstration will be
continuous Under water or on the
water, the vessels will be engaged in
lawful traffic at their own risk The
fact that British control Of the sea
compels Germany to resort to small
submersibles instead of using its
great liners Is not our fault; ii is
Germanys misfortune. Neither are
we to blame If Britain's blockade
r.tl st.t II
commerce; that woulu be Germanys
good fortune, in this case well
earned.
Pro-German propaganda in the
United States almost persuaded Con-
gress at one time to relinquish our
right to the sea. Most OF the Re-
publicans in both Houses actually
went on record, at time when the
Administrations diplomatic victory
in the submarine matter was practi-
cally won, I'm favor Of warning Amer
leans not to travel on belligerent
ships An important element favored
an embargo upon all war supplies.
TO have withdrawn protection from
Americans at sea would have been to
encourage on Germany's part the
lawless use Of such naval power as
it possesses. To have placed an em-
barge upon munitions would have
been o shameful surrender OF a SOW
oreign right, and it would have
amounted to a violation OF neutral
ity, which might have led to war
Moreover, IL these mistaken pol
icies had prevailed, the heroic voy-
age OF the Deutschland would have
been in vain. It is here for the sin
ews OF war, just as the British,
French and Italian liners are. With
an embargo in force, it would 20
home light so far as such commodi-
ties are concerned. Instead Of meet
ing an embargo, 1t enters an open
market. In our waters il is under
our protection. On its departure,
like any other belligerent, il must
look out for itself and its purchases.
Tho just and determined attitude
OF the United States did much to
stop the misuse of submarines. The
true neutrality OF the United States
viii operate powerfully to encourage
their legitimate operation in COM
merce as well as in war In this,
Germany itself is likely to find q
respectable triumph after what at
first seemed to be defeat and humil-
iation.
It is the difference between mas
sacre and merchandising, between
savagery and civilization"
For this mouthpiece OF Woodrow
Wilson to declare that the appear
ance OF a German submarine mer-
chantman in n harbor Of the United
States is q lesson in neutrality, Is the
most impotent. the most stupid thing
we have ever seen in print. For
many months the American people
have been crying for German dye
stuff, but Woodrow Wilson turned
a deaf ear to the cry, because it in
yolyed q firm stand toward the coun-
try where his mother was born and
which he loves so dearly. And whom
Woodrow Wilson's mouthpiece
speaks Of "Germanys misfortune
that it cannot freely trade with the
United States" 1t repeats an old, old
story Of the Allies, which sensible
people all over the world have classed