The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-22
VII
American Lives Continually
Jeopardized at Sea.

do not intend to go in great detail
into the exchange of notes and the
public history of the submarine con-
trovsrsy, as all that properly belongs
to the history Of the war rather than
to an account OF my personal ex-
periences. and bzesides as Victor
Hugo said. History is not written
with a microscope" All VIII re-
member the answer of Germany to
the American LtIsitania note, which
answer. delivered on Nav 90. contain
ed the charge that the Lusitania was
armed and carried munitions and had
been used in the transport Of Cauad-
Ian troops In the meantime, how
ever, the American shin Nehraskan
had been torpedoed of the coast of
Ireland on the twentv-siXth md on
American steamer CulfiEht had been
torpedoed by mistake and apologIzed
for this act.
Won Jarow gave me. about the
same time, IA note requesting that
American vessels should he more
plainly marked and should illuminate
! their marking at night
The second American Lusttania
note was published on July II, 1915.
and it's delivery was coincident with
the resignation of Mr. BRYAN as
Secretary of State In this last note
President Wilson Cfor. Of course, It
Ia an open secret that he was the
author of these notes) made the issue
perfectly plain, referring to the torp-
edoing OF enemy passenger ships.
Only her actual resistance to
capture or refusal TO atop when
ordered to do so for the purpose
! of visit could have afforded the
Ia- ne hr sub rir
justification for putting the lives
! of those on board the ship In
jeopardy.
+ The German answer TO this Ameri-
can Lusitanis note WIS delivered on
! Iilv 3 and again stated that we
have been obliged to adopt a sub
+ marine war to meet the declared in
/ tentions of our enemies and the
/ method of warfare adopted by them
! In contravention of international
/ law
Again referring TO the alleged fact
! Of the Lusitanias carrying munitions.
the German answer said THAT n the
I Lusitania had been spared. thousan Dis
/ OF cases OF munitions would have
I been sent to Germanv's enemies and
| thereby thousands OF German mothers
and children robbed of hreadwinners :"
The note contained. also. some OF
Il Xfrmsrmann' fAvorite pronesAlRH 10
4 commanders would he instructed to
( permit the passage of American steam
/ ers marked in special WAY and
whose sailing had been notified In
advance, provided that the American
/ Government guaranteed that ther e
vessels did not carry contra hand OF
war, 1t was also suggested that a
number OF neutral vessels should be
/ added to those calling under the
! American flag to give greater oppor-
I tunity for those Americans who were
4 compelled to travel abroad. The note s
most important part continued: I'm
particular, the Imperial Government
( is unable to admit that the America .
citizens can protect an enemy ship by
mere fact of their presence on board 81
/ GERMANy'S T-ROAT
PROPOSALS REJECTED
4 July 81 the American Government
rejected the proposals OF Germany
saying That the iivee of noncon-
hatants may in no case be put in
! jeopardy unless the vessel resists OF
seeks to escape after being summoned
to submit to examination" 1t dispos-
ed OF the claim that the acts. of Eng.
land gave Germany the right to re
taliate even though America citi-
zens should he deprived OF their
lives in the course of retaliation BY
stating: For a belligerent act OF