The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-05-09

straints upon the use of the submarine
weapon solely in consideration OF
heutrals interests, in spite of the fact
that these restrictions are necessarily
on advantage to Germany's enemies.
NO such consideration has ever been
SHOWN neutrals by Great Britain and
her Allies
Submarine Orders.
Tho German submarine forces
have had, in fact, orders to conduct
the submarine warfare in accordance
with the general principles OF visit and
search and the destruction of mer.
chant vessels, recognized by interna
tlonal law. the sole exception being
me conduct OF warfare against enemy
uade carried on enemy freight ships
encountered in the war zone surround
Ing Great Britain. with regard to
these no assurance has ever been Civ.
en- to the Government of the United
states. NO such assurances are con.
ta,ned In the declaration Of February
8. 1916"
Claim Errors Occurred.
Ihe German Government cannot
ADMIT any doubt that these orders
we're given or are executed In good
ialth. Errors actually occurred. They
can In no kind OF warfare be avoided
altogether Allowances must be made
In the conduct OF naval warfare
against an enemy resortinr tn all
Mnos or ruses, whether permissible or
Illicit"
unavoidable" Dangers to NeutraIs
But apart from the possibility OF
errors naval warfare just like war.
iare on land. implies unavoidable dan.
gers Tor neutral persons and goods
entering the fighting sone. Even I'm
cases where the naval action is con.
nned to ordinary forms of cruiser war.
fare neutral persons and goods -.
peatedly come to grief.
The German Government has re.
peatedly pointed out the dangers from
mines that have led to the loss ~
numerous ships
some German Pepper In This.
Ihe German Government has ma(e
several proposals to the Goyernment
OF the United States in order to re-
duce to minimum for American tray.
elers and goods the inherent danrars
OF naval warfare. Unfortunately the
Government of the United States do.
cided not to accept the proposals Had
IL accepted the Government OF the
united States would have been instru.
mental In preventing the greater part
or the accidents that American eft.
liens have met with in the meantime
The German Government still
stands by its offer to come to an
agreement along these lines"
Makes Further Concession.
"As the German Government re.
peatedly declared. II cannot dispense
with the use Of the submarine weapon
In the conduct Of warfare against
enemy trade. The German Govern.
ment. however. has now decided To
make further concession, adapting
methods OF submarine war to the In.
erests of neutrals.
In reaching this decision the Ger.
man Government is actuated by CON.
siderations which are above the level
OF disputed question"
Sacred Principles Of Humanity.
The German Government attaches
no less Importance to the sacred
principles of humanity than the Gov.
ernment OF the United States. 1t
again fully takes into account that
Doth governments for many years co.
operated in developing international
law In conformity with these princi.
pies, the ultimate object OF which has
always been to confine warfare on sea
and land to armed forces OF belIiger.
ents and safeguard as far as possible
against the horrors
or war. But although these consid.
erations are OF great weight. they
alone would not under present cir.
cumstances have determined the atti.
tude OF the German Government.
Puts Blame on England.
For In answer to the appeal by
the Government OF the United States
on behalf OF the sacred principles of
humanity and international law the
German Government must repea once
more with all emphasis, that 1t was
not the German. but the British Gov.
ernment which ignored all accepted
rules OF international law and ex.
tended this terrible war to the lives
and property of non.combatants, hav.
ing no regard whatever for the inter.
ests and rights OF neutraIs and non.
rombatants that through this method
of warfare have been severely injured.
Had to Resort to Submarines.
In self-defense against the Illegal
'orduct OF British warfare, while
1shtinS Bitter struggle for National
existence, Germany had to resort TO