Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-09

North Sea a war zone in which COM
mercial shipping would be exposed to
the most serious dangers from mines
and men of war. Protests from neu-
trails were Of no avail and from that
time on the freedom of neutral COM
merce with Germany was practically
destroyed. Under these circumstances.
Germany was compelled to resort. in
February. 1915, to reprisals in order to
fight her opponents measures. which
were absolutely contrary to internal
tional law. She chose for this purpose
a new weapon, the use OF which hau
not yet been regulated by internation-
al law and. in doing SO. could and did
not violate any existing rules. but only
took into account the popularity OF
this new weapon. the submarine boat.
| The use of the submarine naturally
necessitated a restriction of the Tree
movement of neutrals and conSutute1
a danger for them which Germany IN
tended to ward off by a special warn
ing analogous to the warning England
had given regarding the North Sea.
LAS both belligerents-Germany IN her
note of Feb II and Great Britain In
those Of Feb IS and .. lsl5-claimed that
| their proceeding was only exacted in re-
taliaton for the violation OF internati"h-
/, al law by their opponent. the American
government approached both parties Tor
the purpose of trying to re-estahilsh M
/! ternationaI Law as it had been in force
1! before the war. Germany was asked TO
adapt the use of her new weapon TO the
| rules which had been existing for the Tor
mer naval weapons. and England not 10
interfere with the food supplies Intended
! for the non-comoatant German popula-
! ton and to admit their distribution uu-
der American supervision. Germany on
March l. 1915, declared her Willingness
! to comply with the proposal OF the Amer
lean government whilst England. on the
other hand. declined to do SO. BY the
order in council March Il, ISIS. Great
Britain abolished even what had remain
! ed of the freedom of neutral trade with
Germany and her neutral neighbors
Englands object was to starve Germany
into submission by these illegal means.
/ Germany's after neutral citizens had
| lost their lives. against her wish and in
! tenton, nevertheless in the further course
of the war. complied with the wishes of
! the American government regarding the
use Of her submarines. The rights of
neutrals regarding trading were in fact
nowhere limited by Germany.
Then England made it impossible for
submarines to conform with the old rules
of international law by arming nearly
all merchantmen and by ordering the use
of guns on merchant vessels for attack
| Photographic reproductions of those in
structions have been transmitted to neu-
! trail governments with the memorandum
| of the German government of Feb. S.
! 1916 These orders are obviously in con-
tradicton with the note delivered by the
| British ambassador in Washington to the
! American government on Oct. .. 1914.
/ On account of the proposal made by the
/ United States on Jan. g. 1916, regarding
. the disarmament. the imperial German
government hoped that these facts would
enable the neutral governments to obtain
! the disarmament of the merchant ships
! of her opponents. The latter, however
| continued with great energy to arm their
mercha ntmen with guns.
I The principle of the United States
government not to keep their citizens off
belligerent merchant ships has been used
! by Great Britain and her allies to arm
/ merchant ships for offensive purposes
Under these circumstances. mercha ntmen
! can easily destroy submarines. and if
! their attack fails. still consider them
selves in safety by the presence of Amer
| lean citizens on board.
! The order to use arms on British
merchantmen was supplemented by in
! structions 10 the masters Of such ships
/ to hoist false flag and to ram U-boats.
| Reports on payment Of premiums and
! bestowal of decorations to successful
masters of merchantmen show the eff
| feet of these orders. England's allies
/ have adopted this position.
Facts Faced by Germany
Now. Germany is facing the fol-
lowing facts:
| "(A) A blockade contrary to inter-
national law compare American note
to England of Nov. 5. 1879 has for one
year been keeping neutral trade from
German ports and is making German
| exports impossible.
| "(B) For IS months through the
extending of eontraband provisions in
pare American note to England of
! Nov ). 1870 the overseas trade of
neighboring neutral countries. so far
as Germany is concerned, has been
hampered.
! "fC) The interception Of mails in
violation of international law Conn
pare American memorandum to Eng
| land Of Jan. 10, 1850 is meant to stop
. any intercourse of Germany with for
| eign countries.
! "fD) England, by Systematically
and increasingly depressing neutral
countries, following the principle of
! might before right. has prevented
! neutral trade on land with Germany
SO as to complete the blockade Of the
! Central Powers intended to starve their
! civil population.
/ led Germans met by our enemies
on the high seas are deprived of their
! liberty no matter whether they are
combatant or nom combatant
I'D Our enemies have armed their
merchant vessels for offensive pur-
poses, theoretically making it impossi-
BILE to use our L-boats according to the
principles set forth in the London dec
lar (compare American monO-