Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-04-05

1 German meaning OF the phrase, a mean
Ing that carries with 1t the right of all ma
lions to trade during war almost to the
same extent that they do during peace.
Germans Plan is "FriahtfuIness."
The law enables the allies to import
rifles and ammunition, and prevents the
Germans from importing the necessaries
of life for her civil population. The Ger
mans want to discredit all interference
with commerce during war by bringing
home to Americans and other neutrals the
results of such Interference. They want
to obtain American assistance either In
breaking the blockade or in damaging
British and French commerce.. If not they
hope at least to arouse opposition to flu
ture blockades.
Ine submarine at present is less Il mill
tary weapon than an instrument of inter-
national agitation. BY means of its activ-
ity seek to persuade neutral
traders that neutral interest lies not in
commerce with one belligerent. as the law
practically allows, but in commerce with
all belligerents. Thus they propose to
dispose of the whole traditional system
of marine law.
BY clever management they nave forced
the American government into a disadvan-
tageous place from which extrication with
out loss of some kind will be difficult. Yet
the difficulty of the situation should help
4AAn AMY Ntiiio ii'ic anu OIl MIllCI SHE
of this controversy their own national in
terest lies. as Well as the genuinely in
ternational interest. They have in the
past tlirted with the German conception
OF marine freedom. but the present war
and its controversies should convince them
that a system of law which secures almost
complete freedom OF trade during war
would be injurious to the interests of gem
timely pacific nations.
Freedom of the seas, like civil freedom
on land, must eventually rest upon the
orderly exercise and authoritative power
and control. The Germans are seeking to
destroy the British empire of the seas
and it's associated legal system. because
the empire of the seas always did and al
ways will constitute the "insurmountable
obstacle to indefinite extension of military
empire OF the land.
Safety Of v. s. Depends an UphoIdina
Law.
The United States should not only re-
fuse to furnish them with aid and encour-
agement, but 1t must in the end line up on
the side of British sea power. The Sc
curity OF the American nation, no less
thar the realization so indispensable to
the future OF democracy, depends upon the
extension and perpetuation OF an authors
tative empire Of the seas.
Hence 1t is that organized sea power
Will be obliged to outlaw submarines as
commerce d~estroyers. Their continued use
In such capacity would produce a condi-
ton OF terrorism on the seas during war
not dissimtlar to that which prevailed in
the Seventeenth century. The Germans
would be willing to give up the submarine
attacks on m and restore order on
the seas. but only on condition Of getting
rid by these means Of any organized sys-
tenn of marine control.
They are offering to neutrals the choice
between anarchy on the ocean during war
and a legal system that would make the
peaceful trading nations the accomplices
OF a land empire. nc matter what the
cause for which it was fighting. Neutrals
should reject both alternatives, and look
for a way out in a different direction.
Organized sea power will be obliged
eventually to propose the outlawine of
submarines as destroyers. The
proposal can not be adopted without neu-
trail assistance. and the necessary as
sistance should be furnished by the United
States. Organized sea power possessing
an effective control of the seas constitutes
an Indispensable agency of an ultimate In
ternational settlement.
The American people could not help to
break 1t up without betraying their own
most precious national interests and
ideals. They should be willing even to in
fleet to cooperate in consolidating the
control. provided their government can
reach some understanding with Great
Britain as to the system of law for the
benefit of which the control should be ex-
ercised.
pr0co Tho nova ~ thew liz o4,,1 "a