Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-16

were committed right along, and a word from the kaiser would have stop ped 1t, and therefore he stands con- victed by the tribunal of heaven and the bar of humanity for not stopping what he had the power to stop.
 How about the spy system that honeycombs the various nations? The prefect of police in Paris two years never seen refuted, that at the out break of this war they had apprehend- ed 35,O0O Germans acting as spies in France. How shall we account for the explosions, fires and other property damages that have ragged to an unpar- aaleled degree in this country for some time past? I hope I am mistaken in the hrm conviction that spies are here. plains in this note that Great Brftains s blockade is cruelty to on-combatants. That Germany is feeling its pinch and is greatly alarmed over it's possible ruthless submarine warfare. No won- der the nation is bitterly chagrined over the success of the blockade. A blockade is a terrible instrument of retaliation. It emphasizes what Gen. eral Sherman said about war, and yet it is allowed by international law. Ac- cordfng to Chancellor Kent, a blockade is the closing of ports of an enemy by army or navy to the admission of supplies. Now it makes no difference how skilful an army may be, unless it Is properly fed, clothed and equipped it is soon good for nothing. A block ade is a quick means of bringing an enemy to his knees, and unfortunately the innocent are made to suffer with the guilty. There is no reason why the German government should squeal over the sufferings brought to the non- combatants for what was its object in sending the Zeppelins to the English coast to maim women, children and other civilians who were non-combat- ants. The German government has forgotten the old saying, They who dwell in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
 A case parallel to the English block ade was furnished by the north block ading the ports of the south during verge of war with Great Britain As the Conferedate states had no means of exporting it's cotton, the cotton mills of Great Britain had to be closed. A this is only another way of saying that war is he'll"
 5. The German governments new proposal for carrying on ruthless war fare is unparalleled in civilized history. It would be strictly within the bounds of international law to maintain a blockade against British ports, but to threaten neutral ships anywhere on the high seas, whether carrying con- traband articles or not, is well nigh
 
 would dare to threaten commerce be- tween neutrals. The new war zones marked out by this German proposal will cover portions of the coasts of Holland and Spain, both neutrals. An American steamer bound for Amster- dam Is in danger of destruction from mines and submarines. The attempt seems to be to paralyze the commerce of the world. But the crowning insult Is telling a great nation like America how to paint her merchant ships. This Is the language of the note: "A coat of painting on the ships hull and on the superstructunre three meters broad with certical stripes of alternating white and red" How proud we should be sailing before foreign nations with ships that looked like a cross between a barbers pole and a convicts uni form! The German government that is so troubled over the freedom of Ire land asks us to disfgure our ships; the ships of a country that has given to the world John Paul Jones, Decatur, Perry, Farragut, Porter, Schley, Samp- son and Deweyl It is insults like these that make the country stand solid with the president. The one outstanding thought in American life today is: "If forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning"