New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-07
Austria's Apology for Ruthlessness


The voluminous memorandum prepared
as an answer TO the American request lot
p definition of the Acknowledgment gov
ernment's policy in the matter OF suoma-
rine warfare is in fact an elaborate at
tempt to expound and justify the German
declaration of January 81. 1t is true that,
by way of summary, the assurance already
given in relation to the Ancona case is for
mallv reiterated; but the sense OF the
whole argument is plainly opposed to that
assurance, which at least promised Sc
curitv to those on board vessels which OF
fered no resistance to capture.
It is manifest that the Austrian govern
ment holds Loyalty to the German concep-
ton of neutral rights in every particular
and is concerned only to explain the JUS
tice and humanity of German purpose. An
attempt is actually made to justify SINK
ing at sight on the ground that it is really
kinder and more humane than forcing
crews and passengers to take refuge IN
boats. This is the argument, gem
of its kind:
In the first place, it must not be over
looked that the rescue of persons is almost
always left to mere chance, as the only
choice remaining is 10 take them aboard
war vessels, which arc exposed TO any
enemy influence, or to expose them IN
small boats TO the dangers OF the elements
So that it therefore corresponds much
better to the principles of humanity to pre-
vent persons, by timely warning, from using
endangered vessels.
The same grotesque reasoning perVades
the whole note. Thus the grief OF the zen
trail Powers at being forced after two years
of silent suffering to strike back at their
lawless enemies is pognantly enlarged
upon without the least regard to the Sc
uuence Of events:
For more than two years the Central
Powers hesitated. Only then, and after long
and careful consideration OF pros and cons,
did they begin 10 return like for like and
attacked the enemy on the sea. As the
only ones Of the belligerents who had done
everything to secure the existing treaties
which were to guarantee to neutrals the
freedom of the seas, they felt with panied
hearts the law of the hour which com
manded them to violate this freedom.
AS TO the proclamations apparently"
opposed to our rights and the rights OF all
neutrals, we are gravely asked to believe
that the Central Powers are cruel only to
be kind, for that the said proclamations
really "serve toward the restoration OF
these rights which their enemies have IN
cessantly violated and which, If they were
victors, they would destroy forever" On
the other hand, if we will only be patient
and suffer murder and lawless outrage
little while the day will come when the
flags of all states, in the glory of their
newly won freedom, can freely fly over
the seas"
For the rest the declaration of ruthless
warfare "does not aim at destruction OF
human life" which can be avoided if we
will only keep out of the way of the sub
marines. and that ought TO be easy enough,
for. inasmuch as Austro- Hungarian subma-
rines ply only in the Adriatic and Mediter-
ranean, ian encroachment of American in
terests is hardly to be feared"
In a word, the memorandum is nothing
but a fantastic attempt to establish the
righteousness Of ruthless submarine war
fare and can only be taken as implying I'M
qualified approval of Germany's course.