Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-07

1 standpoint. this thesis can. OF course,
he ranked in a higher suggestive con-
ncction. and from that view it's domain
! Of application can be marked out more
exactly.
From tho laws OF humanity. which
the .tustro- Hungarian government and
tho Washington Cabinet take in tho
same manner as judging the lines. the
more general principle can he derived
that when executing the right of de-
StroyinE enemy merchantmen the loss
OF human life should as far as possible
be avoided. To this principle the bel
lis"ren; cnn only do Justice by issuing
warning before exercising the right
Therein he can choose the way which
the aforementioned thesis of tho Amcri-
can government indicates. according to
which the commander OF the war vessel
and passens erS could bring themselves
into safety in the last moment. or the
government OF bclligerent states can,
If this is recognized as All inevitable
necessity 81 war. issue warning ri fun
effect also before the departure Of the
vessel which is to be sunk; or finally. it
can. if il establishes extensive meas
ures against enemy sea trade. employ
general warning for all enemy vessels
III question.
That the principle according to
which care must be taken for the safety
OF the persons aboard undersoes ex-
ceptions the American government it
self recognized. But the .>ustro- Hun
Sarian government believes that de-
struction without warning is admissi-
bile not only when a vessel lees or
offers resistance. II appears-to men
ton only one eNample-that the char
acter of the vessel itself also must
he taken into consideration. Mer-
chantmcn or other private vessels
which carry military garrison or
arms aboard in order 10 comm, hos.
tile acts OF any Kind, may, according
to valid rights. DC destroyed without
hesitation.
CITES TEuTONIC VESSELS
SUNK ny ENTENTE:
The Austro- Hungarian government
iced not call attention 10 the fact that
the bellisercnt is released OF all con-
sideraton for human life If his oppo-
nent sinks enemy merchantmen with
out previous warning as happened with
the vessels Electra Germany. Dubrov-
mix 1Austrian). ZaGreb C.austrianl.
etc. which already has been repeatedly
censured. and in this respect :he Aus
tro-lImnsarian government never re-
turned like for like, Notwithstanding
its uncoutssted right In the course
OF the entire wa" Austro- Hungarian
war vessels have not sunk one enemy
merchantmen without previous. il only
general. warning.
The repeatedly mentioned thesis OF
the United states government; also al
lows various interpretations. in SO far.
namely. as il is doubtful whether as
is asserted from various sides. only
armed resistance justiies the destruc-
tion or vessel with persons ahoa I'd
~ resistance Of another kind: a. is
shown II tho crew intentionaliy neglects
20 take the passengers into boats
the Aucona caSe-or il the passengers
themselves refuse Ia enter boats. hc-
corlin. 10 the opinion OF the Austro-
hungarian government. the destruc-
ton Of warned vessel without res
cmtn2 the persons aboard is aimissi-
BILE IN cases Of the latter kind, because
otherwise it would be left to the in
diNidual passenger 10 nullify tho rish.
OF belligereIts to sink vessels
Moreover il may be pointed out also
that there is no unanim!ty as regards
ia what cases the sinking OF neutral
merchantmen ut AL il admissible. III"
obligation 10 issue a warning imHe-
diately before sinking Vessels leads.
according 10 the opinion OF the .AuStro-
hungarian government. on the one
hand To harshucss which could BE
avoided: on the other IL is under ri,-
cumstanc"s calculated to Iniurc tn.
justified interests Of beIliG-remtS. Ia
the urst place IL must not h, over
looked that TIA. rescue vf pc Suns is
almost always left TO mere rhaMc- ~
the only choice remaining is i" take
them aboard war vessels which are en-
posed 10 amy enemy inilucuc, OF TO
expose them in small boats to iu. dan
gers Of the elements So that II there
fore corresponds much better - tn.
principles oi humanity 10 prevent per
sons by timely warning from using en-
dan2ered vessels