Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-03-14

AAlS WRESTLING LOu EOSL says IN lJS
issue Of March Ill
The technical status Of armed
neutrality" which the United States
assumes when it arms merchant ves-
sells flying the American flag, will in
all probability be Of brief duration.
The armed neutrality Of the states
Of northern Europe in 1850, and
again in 1901, resembled only a
Slight degree the armed neutrality Of
the United States in 1917. There
was no sinking Of neutral vessels
without warning century ago; no
wholesale sea murder under color Of
national authority. 1t was not until
the present war in Europe that MUIR
der by public armed ships was sub
stituted for lawful blockade.
The armed neutrality Of 1880 was
organized TO defend neutrals against
unlawful seizures by belligerents.
The armed neutrality of 1917 is to
be used against attempts to commit
murder on the high seas.
All nice questions as to the right
Of the United States to arm its mer-
chant vessels, or to convoy them with
public armed vessels, are beside the
point in view Of the situation. The
German submarine campaign is not
a questionable misapplication of the
law Of nations, to be corrected by
modes of redress short Of war 1t is
pure lawlessness. The Germans hay
ing cast aside the law by their
method Of warfare, they are not en-
titled to invoke the law against any
methods adopted by neutrals in self
defense.
Germany's attempt to beat Eng
land depends upon the destruction
Of ships going to and from England.
There can be no exemptions Of Amer
lean vessels from destruction If Eng
land is to be starved. Therefore,
American vessels win be sunk if sub
marines can accomplish the feat.
Our armed merchant vessels, having
been notified that submarines will
try TO sink them, are fully justified
in trying to sink any submarine that
shows itself. Therefore, it is to be
expected that American merchant
vessels and German submarines will
be destroyed within short time.
The question whether an American
merchant vessel is carrying muni-
tions or other contraband of war is
immaterial The carrying Of muni-
tions does not make a vessel lawfully
subject to destruction 1t is subject
to visitation, search, and capture as
a prize. III Germany were itself obey
Ing the law Of nations in capturing
vessels the resistance Of an Amer
lean merchant vessel would justify
sinking her; but since Germany does
not pretend to visit or search vessels,
the merchant vessel, even if carrying
contraband has an inherent right TO
defend Itself against unlawful attack.
War is inevitable, in these circum-
stances. Americans will not refrain
from war when their vessels are un-
lawfully destroyed and the passen-
gers and crews murdered; nor will
Germany refrain from sinking yes
sells bound for England The return
to the lawful practice Of the rules OF
war by Germany would mean failure
TO starye England, and this in turn
would mean the defeat Of Germany
within a short time She must win
by murdercus methods within
short time, or suffer starvation and
defeat.
Pacifsts who passionately urge
that the United States should avoid
war are directing their plans to the
wrong party 1t is Germany that is
plunging the United States into war
Let the pacifsts induce Germany to
observe the law.
To advice the pacihsts to induce
Germany to observe the law" is
Anglomania sophistry The Post ad-
mits that Germany is fighting for her
existence. self-presorvation is the
first law Of nature; it supercedes all
other laws; and it is useless to ask
anybody to tamely submit to being
slowly tortured to death when that
somebody has weapon at hand with
which he may defend himself success
fully against his tormentors If we
60 to war with Germany il will be
over a minor law, a minor right ~
minor to the law Of self-preseryation
and the right to exist, because our
existence does not depend on selling
our products and munitlon TO Eng
land We can keep out Of the war ii,
for the time being, we abandon that
right, as we have abandoned our
right to trade with Germany in nom
contraband a right, guaranteed US in
the Declaration of London. But il
we must assert our right, then 1t
should be assorted equally against