The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-10

NV w Wy eAss't
ards Of the farm year. More than
a normal amount Of crop damage IL
already offset. and II nature Ia still
kind to US, II We raise big crops
again. 30 much the better.
The Endless Submarine Controversy.
The new German memorandum on
submarine warfare presented by
Count Won BERNsToRrr to Secretary
LANSING concludes by saying that
"the Imperial Government feels con-
ndent that the people Of the United
States, remembering the friendly re-
lations that for the last one hundred
years have existed between the two
nations. will In spite of the difficult.
ties put into the way by enemies
appreciate the German viewpoint as
laid down above" Unfortunately for
the realization Of this hope, state
ments In the memorandum on which
the German Government builds It's
case are sometimes half truths II not
Misrepresentation. Take. for In
stance. the following:
o November ,. 1914. the order Of
the British Admiralty followed declar-
Ing the whole North Sea a war zone.
In which commercial shipping would he
exposed to the most serious danger from
mines and men-of-war Protests from
neutrals were Of no avail, and from that
tfme on tho freedom Of neutral COM
merce with Germany was practically de-
~stroyed."
This. II true rs stated. would have
justified the reprisal Of submarine
warfare In q zone similarly marked
out on merchantmen Of the Allies,
provided they were % attacked
without warning and crews and pas.
scngers were permitted To save them.
selves. But what was this order of
the British Admiralty declaring the
whole North Sea q war zone? 1t
was dated London. November -" and
began by saying that during the last
week the Germans have scattered
mines indiscriminatcly In the open
sea on the main trade route from
America to Liverpool via the north
of Ireland The mines, a. the All.
miralty pointed out. could not have
been laid by any German ship of war.
from which II followed In the judg.
ment Of the Admiralty tina, they
have been laid 10y some merchant ship
flying a neutral flag Peaceful mer-
chant ships had been already blown
up. and i've quote from the order,
nut for the warnings given ny Brit
lsh cruisers other British and neu.
trail merchant and passenger vessels
would have been destroyed" Notice
was given that tho whole If tho
North Sea must he considered u mill.
tary area" Unprecedented, rive the
British will have 70 admit. The or.
der went on to say:
"Wi'h!n this area merchant shipping
OF all kinds, traders OF all countries.
fishing craft and al. other vessels will
be exposed to the grav".t dangers from,
mines which II has been necessary To
lay n from warships searching vigi-
lan;iy b. night and day FOR suspicious
craft"
But while mining the North Sea in
selected places IN trap the enemy the
Admiralty undertook I" aid com.
merce Of all countries" IL reach Its
destination in safety" The warming
was given that "nll ships passing a
line drawn from the northern point
of the Hebrides through the Farce
Islands I" Iceland do 81 AZ their
peril" II they would come through
III" English Channel. which is the
usual route, they would receive sail.
ing directions" and be- passed safely
~ far ms Great Britain was con
cerncd. Novel conditions under
which this war is being wnGcd'' were
urged in justification Of this course.
In adopting II Great Britain WAS oh.
viOusly on tho defensive before the
court of neutral opinion. bur she at
least assumed the responsibility of
looking after the safety of trading
ships Of the neutral nations ms well
as her own. Germany in the war
zone" marked out by her disclnimcd
any such responsibility. Neutral
ships we're 10 enter II ut their peril,
and all nations We're In no doubt ms
IA the nature Of that peril.
According 10 the To- memorandum
Germany In her submarine warfare
did not violate any existing rules,
hut only took into account the pccu-
liarity of this new weapon. the sub.
marine boat" What of the Lusi.
tania. the Arabic and other demon
STATIONS of "frightfulncsS''? And
then there is the reference TO the
Order in Council of March II. 1918.
which is said to have abolished even
what remained Of the freedom of
neutral trade with Germany and her
neutral neighhOrs," But WAS ii not
In retaliation for ''Suhmarinp war
fare"p So NO have a SorioS ,f ro