Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-06
MANN ADVOCATES
UNMARRIED ATTACK
Declares u. S. Submarines
Should Not Hesitate. in War,
to Torpedo Hostile Munition
Ships

4
i WASHINGTON. d. CT am not
/ willing that the use Of submarines by
| the United States shall be so restrict
ed as to be valueless," declared Repre-
sentative Mann Republican iloor
leader. in a discussion in the House
on submarine warfare He said the
submarine conld not operate in lady
Ike manner, and declared that the
quickest way to end war is to make It
destructive. Mr.. Mann practically ad-
Yocated attacks without warning on
munition ships ii the United States is
engaged in war.
Representative j. Hampton Moore
or Pennsylvania started the debate by
putting this question to Chairman
Padgett of the Naval Affairs Commit
tee: ~. - =. ...s.
"ITlasmuch as much Of the war
trouble that now beclonds the horizon
arises fromthe use of submarines by
foreign nation, would like to know
whether our understanding of interna-
.tioEal law, or the committees under
standing, is such that il any foreign
nation uses submarines, or if the use
OF submarines by foreign nation is
regarded as ruthless warfare, that OBJ
lection holds against the United
States il We should be engaged in war
and should find it necessary to use
submarines"
Representative Padgett replied that
while not speaking for the Admins
traticn he believed that IF this gov.
eminent engaged in war it would con.
duct 1t along the recognized and pro-
per lines of conducting war, and
would observe all its obligations and
perform all Its duties
As to Friends and Fighting
Representative Thomas s. Butler
said to Mr.. Moore:
Il voted for this appropriation with
the understanding that these weapons
would never be used to commit unjus.
tifiable murder and for no other rea-
son. would vote for it.
''in answer to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania" replied Mr. Moore, Il
will say that he Is a good. sturdy.
peace-loving Quaker, but who fights
sometimes.
Il am not a Quaker" flashed Mr..
butler
"a Friend" explained Mr.. Moore
Nor Friend" replied Mr.. Butler.
Il do not belong to the society OF
either. have made that statement
in the House 40 times, and this is the
last time I would disgrace the hon.
orable people by belonging to them"
The gentleman does not swear
said some one.
Il do net swear at all. can Keep
my word without swearing" said Mr..
Butler.
After replying to series OF ques-
tons en- the submarine question, Rep
:esentatiye Gardner asked AIr. Moore:
Do yOu think that the sending
home of the German ambassador was
justified or not?p
We'll, now the gentleman has a
certain Anglomaniac notion"
Mr.. Gardner insisted that he be
answered. and Mr.. Moore answered
that he supported the President, but
that does not mean that this should be
followed up by an instant declaration
of war. bringing 100,00O,00O people
into war
New Weapons For Murder
Representative II. W. Temple Of the
Foreign Relations Committee then
entered upon serious discussion of
the International law involved In u
boat warfare. He said, in part:
II is never lawful to make war
against noncombatants. and it is as
unlawful upon the ocean as it is upon
the land to fire into women and child
rem
The right of the neutral does not
depend upon the weapon that is used
against him. If am accused of muir
der and plead in defense that used
a kind Of poison that had not been
invented when the law against murder
was made, still the murder depends
on the right of the murdered man to
his life and not on the nature of the
weapon that was used in taking his
life.'
Here is where Mr.. Mann came into
the debate.
AS 1 understand Doctor Temple
he said, his position is that il we en-
gage in war with any foreign Power
and we have submarine that meets
foreign vessel either of a neutral
country or Of the belligerent countries.
loaded with ammunition to supply the
army or the navy of the enemy coun-
try, our submarine must, lady-like, rise
from beneath the surface OF the sea,
ask to board the armed merchant YES
sci and ask to inspect the papers of
the armed merchant vessel before We
can do damage to that merchant YES.
sci.
am not very well informed as to
submarine warfare, but / have been
told that while this lady-like opera.
uon was going on. the merchant YES
SCI would sink the submarine before
oIttcers OF the submarine could board
ner. VI what use Is submarine ex.
cept Tor use against such vessels, and
so lar as the submarine is concerned
daE0 n IT,