The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-28
LETTERS TO EDITOR
German Rights on the Sea

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 A pro-a1ly friend of mine made the statement today that the letter of Hon. s. J. Bowie defending the administra- tion's present radical demands on Ger many was "unanswerable," and while regretting that the task of replying to this missive should fall upon one who would compare 80 unfavorably with Mr. Bowie in legal experience and ability to understand the laws of na- tions, still 1t is quite evident to the impartial reader of this communica- ton that MT. Bowie has considered this proposition from only one viewpoint.
 The whole question at issue re- wolves around the right of Germany to sink armed allied merchant ships without warning. After the incident of the Arabic Germany, in order to re- tain the good will of this country. gave her promise to sink no more liners carrying passengers without warning, even though they be filled with munf- tions of war for the destruction of her soldiers In a statement issued by the German admiralty this morning 1t was stated that in compliance with this promise, numerous ships crammed with munitions had been allowed to go their way by the U-boats just to please the United States. If this policy be ex- tended to every ship of the allies, what would prevent England or any other country enlisting one or more Amer jeans as members of the crew and thereby making it impossible for Ger many to protect herself from the in- humane starvation plan of the Eng fish? and the writer knows of several cases where this has been the course followed. to say nothing of the Brit ish taking the liberty of hOisting the American flag for their own protec- tion as has been done in any number of cases by their own admission. Pres- ident Wilson bases his present ridic- ulous demands on the plea of human ity" but he does not go to the root of the trouble and demand a repeal of Englands starvation blockade. Let Ger many make the least violation of in- ternational law and the news is imme- diately sent out from Washington that the situation Is grave" but no matter the extent of the British offense, the note is always weak and little is said about it in the papers.
 Germany gave the policy of warning all merchant ships of the allies thorough trial, but were met by treach- cry in so many cases-viz: the incident of the Raralong--that it was realized that this would lead to the destruc- tion of all her great submarines, and the ruthless murder of her brave men. The public demanded action and :. change was accordingly necessarily made. International law was not writ ten to meet present conditions in war fare, and we should not, by insisting nr, 1fcI al I'll nn apd dor tpnf fective the use of our own submarines in the time to come when they will be needed for the defense of our own coasts.
 Germanys right to do these things Is the right of necessity and self preservation. the right of changed methods of making war, the right to protect her sons from the millions of dollars worth of unneutral American shells pouring over each week and the right to retaliate for the attempted starvation of the women and children at home. Things should not be con- sidered in the light of equal against equal, but of one against them all, the supreme struggle for existence by the worlds most intelligent people Eng lands policy is the selfish. jealous pol icy, putting up the money, letting the others do the fighting and grabbing the lions share at the end. England the arch -fiend of intrigue.
 We have no cause to love the Brit ish empire; she has fought us twice. Let all true Americans be fair to Ger many and not by insisting upon an obsolete rule of the old regime, place upon our heads and the heads of our children the scorn, enmity and con- tempt of this great nation. Possibly, some day we will need her powerful aid against the yellow peril. fast loom- ing up in the east. We certainly can- not depend on England, when these people have aided her (the Brtish) in this war. England owns half the world now and Germany, by reason of her dense population, only desires to ex- pand little. Let's, be fair and not by attempting to attend to the allies busi- ness make a mountain out of mole- hill.
 The writer has had ample oppor- tunity to go about and meet all classes of people in the last few months, and it is certain that German sentiment is growing day by day in the hearts of American Americans, who admire the wonderful fight she is making and who don't believe in kicking the dog because he's down; nor will let their opinion be biased by a subsidized press.
 J. ARCHIE PERSONS