The Detroit times., 1916-04-20

German submarine unavoidable. II
| now considers that conclusion sub
stan,iated by the st.semsnts Of YOU,
Of the facts upon which the govern:
ment OF the United states has based
its conclusion Ia enclosed.
Nany Instances Cited
The government OF the United
states after having given careful
periai government OF the 10th of
April regrets to state that the I'M
preston made upon II by the state
ments. and proposals contained In
eminent has failed 70 appreciate the
gravity OF the situation which has
resulted. not alone from the attack
on the Sussex but from the whole
warfare as disclosed by the unre-
strained practice OF the commanders
OF Gcrman underses craft during the
past - months and more In s the In,
vessels Of all sorts. nationslities and
destinations. II the sinking OF the
Sussex had been an isolated case. the
might md It. possible to hope that
the officer who was responsible Tor
that act had wilfully violated his or
ders or had been crimtnally Negligent
n taking nom 81 the the, Pre- sud. Of
Justice might be satisfied by impos-
Ing upon him an adequate punish
ment. coupled with formal disavow-
able indemnity by the imperial gov
eminent. But. though the attack up
on the Sussex was manifestiy inde-
fenstble and caused a loss OF Ire so
one OF the most terrible examples OF
the inhumanity OF submarine war
fare az the commanders OF German
vessels are conducting II. II unhsp-
ON the contrary. the government OF
the United states 10 forced by recent
events TO conclude that IL Is only
one instance. even though one or the
Instances. of the deliberate method
and spirit OF indiscriminate destruc-
ton Of merchant vessels or all sorts.
nationallties and destinations which
taxable As the activity OF German un-
dersea vessels OF war has in recent
months been continued and extended.
Boat Dispute Reviewed
The imperial government will re-
call that when. In February. 1915 IL
announced It's intention or treating
the waters surrounding Great Britain
seat OF war and OF destroying all
merchant ships owned by It's enemies
that might be found within that zone
Of danger. and warned all vessels,
keep. out OF the waters thus prescrib-
ed or TO enter them at their peril the
government OF the United states
earnestly protested. II took the posi-
pursued without constant gross and
palpable violations OF the accepted
law OF nations. particularly ~ sub
marine craft were TO be employed a.
its Instruments. inasmuch as the rules
prescribed by that law. rules founded
on the principles OF humanity and
established for the protection OF the
lives OF non-combatants at sea, could
not in the nature of the case be OBJ
served by such vessels " based tS
protest On the ground that persons of
neutral nationality and vessels OF
neutral ownership would be exposed
10 extreme intoierabie risks. and that
no right to close ans. part OF tho nigh
seas could lawfully be asserted by
the imperial government In the CIR
cumstances then existing, The law
which the government OF the United
states based that protest ~ not OF
recent origin or founded upon merely
arbitrary Pripeiplss Sc, up by sonyrn-
upon manifest principles OF humanity
and has long been established with
the approval and by the express as
sent Of all civilized nations
The imperial government. notwith-
standing. persisted In carrying. Out
the policy announced. and declared
the dangers involved. at any rate 10
neutral vessels, would be reduced 70
u had issued TO the commanders of
its su bmarines, and assuring the gov.
eminent OF the United states that II
would take every possible precau,i1n
ard TO safeguard the lives OF nom
combatants
In pursuances OF this policy OF sub
marine warfare against the commerce
Of it's sdversaries. thus announced
and thus entered upon despite solemn
protest OF the government OF tho
United States the comma nders Of the
Imperial governments undersca v~s-
sells have carried on practices % such
ruthless destruction which have made
II more and more evident as the
months have gone b. that the i'm
perial government has found II M
upon them as II had hoped and prom
Used 20 put. Again and again the I'm
perlal government has given Its sol
emn assurances to the government az
senger ships would not be thus dealt
with. and yet II has repeatedly per-
mitted SITS undersea commanders to
disregard those assurances with en-
airy last. II gave notice that IL would
regard all armed merchantmen own
ed by it's enemies as part Of the
naval force OF its adversaries and
thus. at least by Implication. piedS
ing itself to give warning to vessels
which were unarmed and were to &C
cord security OF life 10 their pas
sengers and crews. but even this lin
itation their submarine commanders
have recklessly ignored
NeutvaI Vessels HN
Vessels OF neutral ownership. even
OF neutral ownership bound from
neutral port to neutral port. have
been destroyed along with vessels OF
belliGerent ownership in constantly
increasing numbers. Sometimes tho
merchantmen attacked have been
warned and summoned TO surrender
before being fired uDon or torpedoed:
sometimes their passengers and crews
have been vouchsafed the poor Sc
curity OF being allowed to take TO the
ships boats before the ship was sent
20 the bottom. But. again and again
no warning has been given, no ss-
cape, even to the ships boats. allowed
70 those on board.
Great liners like the Lusitania and
the Sussex have been attacked with
out q moments warning. often be-
fore they have even become aware
that they were In the presence OF an
armed ship OF the enemy. and the
lives OF non combatants, parsenzers
and crew have been destroyed whole
sale and In manner which the gov
srnment 81 the United states cannot
but regard az wanion and without
tho slightest color Of qualification M
limit Or any kind as. IN fact. boon
set 10 their iudiscr inmate pursuit
all kinds and nat!onalitiss within the
waters which the IMPERIAL govern
nient has chosen 10 designate as iy-
Ing within the scat OF war. The roll