The Washington times., 1916-02-18
Offers Plan to SOlve|
WhoIeU Boat Problem
Richard p. Evans Would Allow Merchant Ships to
Try to Escape But Would Force Them to
Surrender When Caught BY Submarine.

nervous or malignant COMMANDER. Once
AZ the bottom. who could gpeak1
For the time being the United states
can speak with authority 70 the Euro
formulate and INSIST upon SOME rea-
sonabIo Observance OF the rights of neu-
trails and OF humanity. 10 have their
concurrence. IL has at Its command
the embargo against the alles ls. ruinov,s: y, ~.
war Of isi2). and the taking In rcprlsal
OF all the vessels Of the central powers
now lying securely in our harbors. as
a iirm and determined stand OF our
Government for humanity and right
would not bring, war TO us oay nearer
and might serve to prevent y altogether.
Now. on the one hand. the Teutonic
right OF submarine activities must be
recognized and provided for. and, on the
other, the blockade on the part Of the
allies cannot be rendered Intellectual.
4 The submarine problem, to my mind.
is the easier OF solution. Not ship
| need be sunk nor a life lost, and the
submarine commander could be honor
ed for his exploits instead Of detpsted.
Would Permit Escape.
My suggestion IS. that the warring ma
tions and our Government enter into an
agreement that enemy merchant ves-
sells shall have the right of escape II
L
i be armed for resistance. II the. sub
marine gets within range, the merchant.
man shall surrender upon demand. res
cue or no rescue"
/ The commander OF the submarine shall
then place prize officer on board tn.
captured vessel. which shall proceed
unmolested. under an international priz'
flag, 20 be adopted. TO a designated neu
trail port. where the ship shall be in
;, termed during the remainder OF the war
the insurance value Of the cargo shal
then be paid by the underwriters TO thu
prize officer. who shall be given SAT-
conduct to his own lines; the. cargo I,
be sold to reimburse the underwriters
so far as may be.
Neutral vessels should I'm like manner
be subject to right of search. and Il
contraband of war be found in the car
go. a somewhat Bimilar procedure to b,
followed. omitting internment Of th'
vessel.
Severe penalties should be imposed fol
any infraction OF the rules adopted
but all parties concerned would be In
terested In their observance.
Savagry. murder. and vandalism woulS
be thus eliminated.
All Would BE Safe.
4 Had some such agreement been II
force. the Lusitania would be riding
interned. in some neutral harbor: tn
thousand of American men. women. ant
children. whose remains are now ming
|. led with the flotsam OF ocean currents
would be living examples OF an enlight
ened and humane policy: German,
would be millions of dollars to the good
q and its admiral and submarine com
mander would be honored and esteem
ed, instead of execrated and abhorre
throughout the Christian world.
. II The Times will place this sugges
ton. In its vigorous manner, before th
y.ouora that he land hiring IL to teh nj
tention of the Bryzns. Fords an
Addams). a plan and policy might b
, evolved In the interests OF humanit
: and civilization. and one which woul
, not enmesh us IN further tangles, O
4. constitute asprecedent to.'plAsue US j
T In the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PRE-
. PARE! PREPARE!
ri RICHARD B. EVANS.
Il February II. 1916.