The sun., 1916-01-16

have little ground for advancing the
charge that Danish neutrality was vio-
lated by the German attack In view of
the fact that British naval forces In a
series OF cases attacked German ships
In neutral waters
Germany's EHplnnati0n.
FINALLY. In the case Of tho destruc-
ton OF the British steamer Ruel. the
0erman submarine merely appli d
measures OF reprisal announced by
Germans In February. 1915. These
measures are In harmony with inter-
national law, because England Is en-
deavoring by Illegal means to tie up
the Legitimate maritime commerce be-
tween Germany and neutral countries,
to cut of Germany from all Imports.
and thereby starve the German people.
Appropriate reprisals are permissible
against measures In violation Of In
tel national law.
I'm all three cases the German naval
forces Intended only to destroy hostile
ships and In no way to slay helpless
persons who were attempting to save
their lives. The assertions to the con !.
trary Of the British Government must
he repudiated with all decisi> eness as
untrue.
THE German Government Is Of the
opinion that II must r. ject a, unac.
ceptable the British proposal to submit
these three cases together with :he
Baralong case to investigation by a
court OF American naval ofilcera II
takes the standpoint that charges
against members OF the German forces
must be Investigated by its own CON-
petent authorities and that the per-
sons accused be given every sur. ty -
an unprsjudiced verdict. with lust pun
ishment when necessary. In the bara.
long case II has advarced to this Brit
ish Government no r,Quest other tha
this, not doubling for a moment that
a court-martial composed Of british
naval officers would infiict suitab Bile pun
ishm.nt for the cowardly and i.srr'li
Gus murder. This request was the moro
justinable because Of the fact that the
guilt Of the commander and crew Of the
Baralong was esta blished practically
beyond doubt by afTldavlts made by
Amercars. who are neutral witnesses,
and submitted TO the British Govern
| ment
Charges empty PPeteHt."
THE manner in which the British
Government has answered the German
memorandum does not cor espond In
form and contents with the gravity OF
for the German Government to nego-
tiate further with the British Govern
ment IN regard to this matter. The
] German Government, therefore, takes
| the ground, rs the final result OF the
! negotiations the British Government un-
| der empty pretext. has left unfuflled
! the justified demands for an investiga-
| lion on the Baralong case and thereby
has made itself respon. ibie for the crime
| Of defying Intel national law and human
| ity, showing thai II desires no longer tc
| observe. In respect to German subma-
zines. one OF the first rules OF war
| namely, TO spaie enemies incapacitated
| for further action-in order 10 prevent
them Il ON conducting warfare at sea ir
! accordance with established international
law.
"Ipasmuch as the British Government
| has declined to make amends for this
| OUTRAGEOUS incident the German Govern
meni feels itself compelled to take Int
| tn own hands punishment for this un-
! atoned crime and to adopt measures ol
epi isal corresponding with the provo
cation"
The submarine In question. which l,
said In England to have been the same
one tha, torpedoed the Arabic, was sum-
ny the British patrol boat Baralong On
| l.undy August l2 while Smelling tbs
| British steamer Nicoslan. The German
Government submitted n memorandum
| to the British Government enclosing am
| davits of several American muleteels or
| the Eicosian which charged that tn
| crew OF the submarine were shot bl
| British ma. ines while struggling In th'
| water and further that the BaralonI
made the attack while dying the Amer