South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-09

precious merchandise may be conveyed to those that
sorely need They armed privateersa but
solely defend themselves against unlawful attack,
precisely those old American merchant fleets
of vanished
During the long debate the senate the armed
neutrality bill the issue was befogged by the little
group OF willfu men," The president asked nothing
was justified by American history and prec
edent Hundreds of vessels used to sail heavily armed
out of Salem and Boston and Portsmouth in times of
nominal peace. nor did any foreign government con-
slider hostile act They we're honest merchantmen
in duty bound protect themselves against lawess
aggression. And it was these same armed merchant
ships which swiftly commissioned privateers
the outbreak the Revolution and swOoped the
like hawks They captured 500 British ships. auda-
cously lowering in the British channel and the Irish
sea. and dealt enemy's prestige deadlier blow
than did Washingtons armies by land. 1t in
merchant ships authorized as prvateers that Capt
Jonathan Haraden, figure to stand beside John Pau
Jones' captured a thousand cannon upon the high
and he took them all in the smoke and flame OF
gunpowder.
REASON FOR RELUCTANCE.
Just why stanch American doctrine revived
AGAINST Germany easily understood by recalling
tain of the last two years 1t was postponed
because imperial government promises which
were intended be broken The United States was
reluctant 10 believe that the Craftsmanship of great
nation could built wholly peridy. dishonor'
and brutality The pledges of decent behavior wrung
Germany after the tragedies of the Iusania and
the Sussex were wantonly violated IN the SINKING OF
the Cunard liner Iaconia.
The German announcement that all merchant ships
would be sunk without warning inside barred zone.
the conclusive proof that all international law was
regarded scrap paper. This unrestricted sub
marine msnamed It piracy, pure
and simple and of kind base that Capt Kidd
would have blushed for it. The president of the Unit
ed States. by of the power which he has the
right without special authority granted by
notified all nations through the department
Mar. 1@ that in view of the announce
ment o the imperial German government on Jan. 81.
1917. all ships. those OF neutrals included met
within certain of the high seas, would be sunk
any precautiOn taken for the safety of the
board without the exercise of visit and
search government of the United states has de-
termned place upon all American merchant vessels
sailing through barred areas. armed guard for
protection the vessels and the lives of the per-
board.
Now the distinction very carefully made. that
these armed ships but merchant ships car
r,ins armed guards This because the and
gunners be furnished by the United states
navy as a part of the government. In order TO re-
tain their merchant ships their shippers
were 10 continue command and the crews were
ink a submarine which should fail 10
observe the laws Of boarding and searching for con
rabands 1t perfectly clear that arming ship for
defense rght and belligerent act, and that
the presence Of defensive crews did not make
vessels either auxiliary cruisers or ships OF war
No TECHNICALTTIES IN OLD DAY.
The ld-fashioned mariner had no such technical
ties as these bother his head about His own crew
fought his ship well sailed her. and he could
ind plenty trained the trade In these days,
however the navy is the only resource for arming a
ship like splitting hairs in the matter OF
the guard therefore legal advice TO let
the navy the work and yet avoid any confusion as
20 the character NJ vessel how
guns she might mount she still a merchantmen
controlled by her captain. and owners
business for the navy 10 undertake and
the demand short notice. in the midst OF a
routine prep arations for when every Of
dcer fairly working his head OF. To key the fight
fleet to the highest Dns~ihA notch OF efficiency