Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1916-05-17


eminent of the United States to pre-
vail upon the British government to
act accordingly failed because OF nat
refusal on the part of the British gov
eminent
Moreover, Great Britain again and
again has violated international law.
surprising all bounds in outraging
neutral rights. The latest measure
adopted to Great Britain. declaring
German bunker coal contraband and
establishing conditions under which
English bunker coal alone is supplied
to neutrals. is nothing but an unheard-
of attempt by way of exaction to
force neutral tonnage into the service
of British trade war.
The German people knows that the
government of the United States has
the power to confine the war to armed
forces of the belligerent countries In
the interest of humanity and mafnte-
nance of international law. The gov
eminent of the United States would
have been certain of attaining this END
had it been determined to insist against
Great Britain on the incontrovertible
right to freedom of the seas. But as
matters stand the German people Is
under the impression that the govern
ment of the United States. while de-
handing that Germany. struggling for
existence shall restrain the use of an
compliance with these demands con-
dition for maintenance of relations
with Germany, confines itself to pro-
tests against Illegal methods adopted
by Germany's enemies. Moreover. the
German people knows to what consid-
cradle extent it's enemies are supplied
with all kinds of war material from
the United States.
1t will, therefore. be understood that
the appeal made by the government of
the United States to sentiments of hu-
rnanity and principles of international
law cannot under the circumstances
meet the hearty response from the
German people which such an appeal
otherwise always is certain to find
here.
If the German government. neverthe-
less. is resolved to go to the utmost
limit of concessions, 1t has been guided
not alone by the friendship connecting
the two great nations for over one
hundred years, but also by the thought
of the great doom which threatens the
entire civilized world should the cruel
and sanguinary war be extended and
prolonged
Germany Ready for Peace.
The German government. conscious
of Germany's strength. twice within
the last few months announced before
the world it's readiness to make peace
on basis safeguarding Germanys vi
tai interests. thus indicating that 1T is
not Germany's fault If peace Is still
withheld from the nations of Europe.
The German government feels all the
more justified in declaring that respon-
sibility could not be borne before the
forum of mankind and in history II
after twenty-one months of the wars
duration the submarine question under
discussion between the German gov
eminent ard the government of the
United States were to take turn seri-
ously threatening maintenance or peace
between the two nations
AS far lies with the German gov
eminent it wishes to prevent things
from taking such course. me Ter
man government. moreover. Is prepared
to do its utmost to confine operations
of the war for the rest of its duratlon
to the fighting forces of the belliger-
ents, thereby also insuring freedom or
the seas a principle upon which the
German government believes now as
before the war that it is in agreement
with the government of the United
States.
New Order to Submarines.
The German government guided by
this idea notifies the government of
the United States that German naval
forces have received the following or
der:
I'm accordance with the general prin-
ciples of visit and search and the de-
struction of merchant vessels. recognized
by International law, such vessels, both
within and without the area declared
a naval war zone, shall not be sunk
without warning and without saving
human lives unless the ship ATTEMPT to
escape or offer resistance
But neutrals cannot expect that Ger
many. forced to fight for existence,
shall for the sake of neutral interests
restrict the use of an effective weapon
If the enemy is permitted to continue
to apply at will methods of warfare
violating rules of international law.
Such a demand would he incompatible
with the character of neutrality, and
the German government is convinced
that the government of the United
States does not think of making such a
demand knowing that the government
of the United States repeatedly de-
clared that IL is determined to restore
the principle of freedom of the seas
from whatever quarter it has been VIC
lated
Urges U. S. Curb Britain.
Accordingly the German government
is confident that In consequence of the
new orders issued to the naval forces
the government of the United States
will also now consider all impediments
way of mutual cooperation toward
restoration of the freedom of the seas
during the war, as suggested in the
note Of July %, 1915, and II does not
doubt that the government of the Unit
ed States will now demand and insist
that the British government shall
forthwith observe the rules of interna-
tional law universally recognized be-
fore the war. as laid down in the notes
presented by the government Of the
United States to the British govern
ment December %. 1914. and Novem-
Der s, 1915.
Should steps taken by the govern
ment of the United States not attain
the object it desires. to have the laws
of humanity followed by all belliger-
ent nations, the German government
would then be facing new situation
in which 1T must reserve to itself com
plete liberty OF decision
The undersigned avails himself OF
this opportunity to renew to the Amer
to-, 1. j. frhp