Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-20
GERMAN SUBMARINE
MUST. CEASE TO
ATTACK COMMERCE
CONTINUED from page onc.)

commanders OF German vessels are con-
d'cting IT, ii unhappily does not stand
alone.
On the contrary, tho government of the
United states is forced by recent events
TO conclude that it Is only one instance,
even though one of the most extreme ard
most distressing instances, of the doib-
crate method aud spirit ~ indscrimna,c
destruction Of merchant vessels of sill
sorts. nationalties. and destinations
which lave become more and moro un-
nliStnkabic ee the activl.: Of German
Nndersca vessels OF war has IN recent
months been quicl;ened and extended.
TECrONsS' BLOCKADE CON DFINfTNED.
che imperial government will recall
Mat when in February. 1915, IL announced
.ts intention OF treating the waters sur
rounding Great Britain and ireland rs
embraced within the scat Of war and Of
destroying all merchant ships owned by
SITS enemies TIM: might be found within
that zone of danger. and warned all ves-
:cy, neutral rs well as belllgerent, to
keep out of tho waters thus prescribed or
10 enter them at their peril, the govern
r,ent % the United States earnestly pro-
tested 1t took tho position that such a
policy could not be pursued without con-
slant gross and palpable viola tons
OF the accepted law of nations
Particularly If submarine craft were
- bc employed as its instruments.
'Nssmuch as the rules prescribed by that
law rules founded on the principles OF
humanity and established for the pro;ec-
iinu OF The lives of non-combatnnts at
sea, could not IN the nature OF the case
b. observed by such vessels. It based its
protest on the ground thnt persons Of
neutral nationality and Vessels of ncu-
t-al ownership would he cXpoeel to eS-
trome and intoicrablc risks and that ru
right to close any part of the high seas
could lawfully be asserted by the imperial
government in tho circumstances then
existing The law Of nn,ions in these
matters unon which the government Of
The United States based that protest. is
rot Of recent origin or founded upon
merely arbitrary principles set up by
convention. II IS based. on the contrary
-lron manifest principles of humanity
and has long been established with the ap'
sroval and by the express assent OF all
civilized nations.
PROMISES NOT KEPT.
The imperial government, notwitEstnnd
ing. persisted in carrying out the policy
announced, expressing the hope that tho
dangers involved, at any rate to neutral
vessels. would be reduced to a minimum
by the instructions which ii had issued
TO the commanders of its submarines
and assuring the government of the
United States that 1t would take every
possible precautlon both to respect the
rights of neutrals and to safeguard the
lives OF non-combatants.
RUTHLESS DISTRACTIONS.
In pursuance of this policy Of sub
marine warfare against the commerce oil
its adversaries. thus announced and thu!
entered upon in despite OF the solem,
protest of the government OF the Unite'
States. the commanders OF the imperia
governments undersea vessels have car
Tied on practices of such ruthless destruC
ton which have made ii more and NOR.
evident as the months have gone by tina
impractlcablc to put any such restraint
upon them as it had hoped and promised
to put. Again and again the impera
government has given its solemn as
surances to the government OF the Unitet
states that at least passenger ship
would not be thus dealt with, and Yet Il
has repeatedly permitted its underseG
commanders to disregard those assur
ances with entire impInity AS recently
as February last it gave notice that il
would regard all armed merchantmei
owned by its enemies as part OF tn,
armed naval forces of its adversarie: