Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-01-07

DldNlllS du tulDdiEO Ol llAC bApOA III
tion Of munition of war on Wednes-
day Of this week Senator Jones Of
Washington denounced as unpatri-
otic American citizens who inn
perilled the nation by taking passage
on belligerent vessels.
Many millions Of Senator Jones
fellow-citizens are of the same opin-
ion. As long as President Wilson
insists upon the right of Americans
to go where they although
he refused passports to the members
OF the Ford expedition to England
| or any other country at war-and TO
travel on any ship they choose, true
Americans should show more con-
sideration for the peace of their
country than their President is do
ing by refusing to follow the pre-
cedence set by Great Britain when
| during the war between Russia and
Japan it warned all British subjects
against travelling on belligerent ves-
sells in the war zone. Americans
travelling in European waters should
keep off vessels belonging to bell
ligerents They take deadly risks
when they travel under fighting
flags, and they unnecessary involve
their country in disputes which may
lead to war
The American who, in spite OF
warnings, deliberately and defiantly
asserts his right to travel in a vessel
belonging to nation at war when
he can avoid doing so, as in the case
Of Consul b. N. McNeely who lost his
life when the persia" went down in
| Sc ~ oh, MI ftts
common sense or patriotism, but
mere braggadocio and egotism. The
man who cares so little for his coun-
try has little reason to demand his
country's protection
There are SO many obscure and
Undetermined questions surrounding
I submarine warfare, that neutral
government, asserting the right of
it's citizens to travel on belligerent
ships anywhere they please, is SER
iously handicapped in its efforts to
extend protection to its citizens, in
waters where submarine boats are
watching for enemy ships. Inquest
ionably a merchant vessel forfcits it's
noncombattant character when it
arms itself and resists capture I'm
der the laws Of war it has no right to
! attempt to escape Yet merchant
vessels 60 armed, as was the Persia,
and in many cases they have at
tempted to escape or ram the attack
ing submarine. The facts arc usually
hard to ascertain; the testimony is
always conflicting In the case OF
tho United States, If American lives
are lost, there is a demand on the
part Of hotheaded individuals and
friends Of tho Allies for drastic ac-
tion whatever the state Of facts may
be. There is always the danger that
the United States may be drawn into
war without sufficient justification.
If Congress would pass a resolution
or bill warning or demanding Amer
leans to keep off belligerent vessels,
the danger OF conflicts between the
United States and the Central Pow
ers of Europe would entirely be
eliminated There is prospect that
such bill will be passed in the near
future; but meanwhile Americans
should show patriotism enough to
stay Off belligerent vessels Of their
free will
Senator Gore OF Oklahoma has in
troduced bill in the Senate which
provides; "That any American citi-
zen or other person entitled TO re-
ceive q passport under the laws of
tho United States, at the time OF
making and verifying an application
for passport shall also make oath,
under such rules and regulations as
the Secretary OF State may prescribe,
tc the effect that he viii not during
the time for which such passport is
issued or renewed travel or accept
transportation as a passenger on the
vessel OF any foreign country or
power which shall be at the time in
a state of war M That no person
owing allegiance to the United States
who shall travel or accept transport
tation as passenger with or without
passport on the vessel OF any coun-
try or power which Is at the time in
n state of war shall be entitled TO tho
protection of this government"
Another bill, introduced by SEN
ator Gore, proyides "That II shall
not be lawful for tho master Of any
vessel OF any foreign country which
Is in a state Of war TO bring or trans
port from any part or place in for
cign country TO any port or place in
the United States any passenger who
is q citizen Of the United States or TO
receive, accept, or transport from
any place or port i'm the United states
TO any port or place in any foreign
country any passenger who is a ciii-
zen OF the United States, except when
such passenger or person has been
rescued from shipwreck or distress
at sea. No vessel the master of
which has violated the provisions OF
this section shall be entitled to enter
or to clear in any port or place in
the United States during the contin-
uance Of such war m II shall not
be lawful for the master of any ves-
sci OF any neutral country, while
carrying or transporting as part OF
such vessels cargo, any article de-
! fined as contraband Of war by this
act consigned or destined 20 any
country which is in a state OF war,
to take, receive or transport any
passenger who is citizen Of the
United States from any port on place
I in the United States to any place or
] port in any foreign country, or vice
/ versa ~ II shall not be lawful for
any citizen Of the United States to
I a.. a. n