Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-07-13
DEUTSCHLAND.

it was supposed that the ultimate
laugh on Great Britain and its claim
to the dominancy of the seas had
been effected" says Bernard III. Rid
der.
The Deutschland" however has
added rib to the risability Of those
inclined to make sport of Britain's
pretention to rule the waves.
Great Britain does not like to be
laughed at.
She can support anything but
ridicule. She swallowed the ex-
ploits Of the Emden. She went so
far as to characterize the conduct of
the Emden's commander as consis-
tent with that Of an officer and a
gentleman
The Deutschland, however, has
consummated Britain's downfall as
the mistress Of the seas.
One might laugh, were one priv
ileged to do so while the red hand
of carnage still holds half of the
world In it's grip, over the conster-
nation created in British Admiralty
circles by the arrival in this country
Of o German submarine merchant
man.
When Fulton first offered his sub
marine designs to the French and
British Governments they were de-
clined
The eminent Pitt, leader then of
the British Parliament, remarked,
in essence, that the establishment of
submarine warfare would eventually
wreck the wooden walls of Britain
and render her fleet worthless as a
defence Of British shores. So, Pitt
attempted to bribe Fulton to destroy
his plans for submersibles. And the
answer Of Fulton was: Sometime
my own country may need my inven-
tioni"
The submarine has been develop
ed from the crude ideas of Fulton to
the perfection which permits a Ger
man submersible merchantmen to
break the British blockade and
bring to this country those medi-
cines and dye-stuffs in which we
stand so sadly in need
The British and French Govern
ments are naturally inclined to avail
themselves of every argument to
determine the status of the
Deutschland" and those submarines
which will follow her to the Amer
Tho American Government, as a
neutral, is not compelled to view
such vessels in the light in which
they are being represented by Eng
land
The Deutschland" has crossed
the Atlantic, put into one Of our
ports, unarmed, with cargo of dye
stuffs for which our manufacturers
IA la. he nd
to 1t should be extended every cour-
tesy that can be extended to q mer-
chant vessel which has run q
blockade" which our State Depart
ment has characterized as 'ineffec-
tive, Illegal, and, consequently, in
defcnsible."
Seemingly an extraordinary ac-
tivity is being developed by the
agents Of the state Department
against this perfectly innocent yes
sci.
Judging from present reports,
agents OF the Department of State
have been despatched to seek about
her possibilities OF torpedo tubes,
and to burrow into her shell, to de-
termine if her shell can carry tor
podoes or messagesi
Out UlASuL C0oudlly iHUuiIC Willy
the samo inspection under the in
structions Of the Presidents son-in-
law should not be carried out on
those British and Italian ships that
put into American ports armed with
81 guns or guns Of superior calibre.
The Deutschland" comes here as
a merchant vessel. We arc not con-
cerDed with the fact that for many
miles she was submerged. She might
just as well have flown through as
many miles of air. She might just
as we'll have worked her way
through SO many miles of waves. We
do not care how vessels come to us,
50 long as they come upon peace
full and commercial mission
The British are immensely an
noyed, Of course. by the fact that
German science has once more put
something over on them
We should worry, however
We are not taking care of the
British, anymore than we are taking
care OF the Germans. When the
British scientific mind can develop
weapon superior to that Of Ger
many we must welcome it. When
the German mind succeeds in pro-
ducing something which overcomes
the British blockade we equally wei
come it.
SO the advent OF the "Deutsch-
land" to an American port is hailed
with unresewed admiration, collec-
lively for the skill of Captain Koenig
in eluding his enemies and eventual
ly delivering to our port the cargo
entrusted to him; to the German
mind which conceived the possibility
OF breaking a blockade by submarine
merchantmen; and to that indomit-'
able spirit of the German nation
which knows no defeatl
The British and French Govern
ments have already attempted to
prove to our Department of State
thnt the Deutschland" Is a vessel
Of war The New York Times, al
ways solicitous for the interest OF
England. has raised the question
whether or not an allied cruiser
would not be justified in sinking the
Deutschland" or any other COM
mercial submarine on sight-prepar-