Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-19


and elsewhere around the English
coasts in order to intercept the COM
mercial routes. The Allied admiralties
first announced the fact in order to
warn peaceful navigation and then
gave notice Of retaliatory measures
which they regretfully announced they
would have to take. The laying of
mines in open sea assuredly. is des-
tructive TO the liberty Of the sea 1t
affects the innocent as much as the
neutralS.
m. zimmerman attributes to the
Entente the project OF Waglng a war OF
determination, not only against the
armies of the Central Empires but also
against women and children. The
Entente Powers have never had SUCH
black designs. They want to obtain
reparation for the past, guarantees for
the future. They desire to obtain
them with the least loss and suffering
possible. They asked only to maintain
peace; attacked, they were obliged to
struggle to conquer that peace. They
hope to accomplish it at the lowest
possible cost; they wish to compel
their adversaries to yield. They nave
no desire to exterminate them. They
do not profess, as does the German
! manual of instructions to officers, that
humanitarian considerations sucn as
those respecting the care OF persons
and their property can only come into
question If the nature and aim or the
war permits of it and that the only
real humanity rests frequently IN the
employment of severity.
"France does not believe that she is
required to renounce the use OF pres
sure and constraint, the legitimacy OF
which has been admitted By all states
and notably by Germany. 81. Zlm-
7nernann complains that the women
and children suffer from the obstacles
placed by the Allies to the feeding OF
Germany Bismarck, did he not re-
fuse an armistice in 1870 asked Tor by
Jules Favre because he did not wish
70 allow Paris to be reprovlSloned
which would prolong the time neces-
sary to reduce the city by famine
And the city of Paris was it not COM
PEELED by famine only to capitulate IN
1871 Is not a blockade which stops
ell communication by sea recognized In
procedure of war as lawful?
an. Zimmerman reproaches the
Entente for iniuring indirectly women
and children who suffer from the
dnarth of food, who would not suffer
any more if Germany would resign it
Golf TO Weld as Paris did in 1871. But
M. Zimmerman, has he ever re-
nroacbed Germany for having quite
directy injured women and children OF
France and Belgium massacred by
German troops at the beginning of the
war. or for having them put IN front
az tho armies TO serve as a shield? Has
he protested against the deportations
which have caused the revival of slaV-
erv in a country occupied by the Ger
man armies:
AS to this German submarine cam
nairn il is quite wrongfully that one
4 c,oipoe 70 give il the name of a block
ado The expression is based on an
( onhipuity. There is nothing in com
( rocn between q blockade regulated by
/ international law and the measures
/ taken bv Germany. Germany des-
! troys Systematically the vessels ana
| their cargoes without regard for tne
Ii,.oe of the passengers and crews. In
coco of error the crime is irreparable
nc E,ntente operates quite the con-
+,ary She limits herself to contiscat-
ING or stopping merchandise coming
fran, or going to Germany. There is
! il an cases the guaranty Of the Juris-
! diction Of the prize court.
"Gernanv defends the principle OF
the liberty of the sea in sending 10 the
bottom Of the seas neutral as wen %
1 enemy merchant ships. Inc Enteil'e
tries amid difficulties to prevent the
provisioning of the enemy ana "
maintain respect for inotfenslve haVl-
cation. However rigorous may ap-
near it's solutions at times, those rls
ORG have in view at least none but MA
tcrial objects; they stop before per
sons and incline before the eXlgencles
Of humanity. ,a
"If ,vc accept the notion OF the ola
blockade. that which the Allles ploch-
ade approaches the most, can II not pe
admitted that it is nearly eHectiNe:
1 There is not on ship in fifty that sue
ceeds in avoiding the vigilance OF our
cruisers. ,,-
as TO the pretended German block
adp by submarines it doesn't stop one
shin in d hundred; the statstlcs Oh
! entries into our ports and the ports OF
our Allies prove that eloquently. !ho
effect most evident Of the so-cdlieu
blockade which Germany has pretend
( od 70 establish has been to show, once
ac~ain the radical difference OF 'he
PRINCIPLES of the two groups OF
\ helircrents. 1t is this which cannot
\ Fail Immediately to strike the neutrals'
mo one has been surprised TO see
president wilson pledge himself to the
resolute policy of whicr YOU are aware
\ This policy was one which could nc
evnected on the part of the eminent
] iurist who knew so we'll how to char
/ octorize and stigmatize the doctrines
\ and principles of our enemies.