The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-19

with q small gun. little chance the
submarine has for search as provided
lbs law, therefore, for HE SupIuariu
10 he of value Il must sink az armed
merchant vessel without warning. for
warning simply means tho destruction
OF the submarine. so. Ii must appear
that the invention and use Of the
submarine must necessarily change
the present rule of international law
IN regard 10 search at least
As the submarine is a recognized
implement OF the present day war
tare, ! would suggest tho following.
rs a civilized solution of the question:
First. The right to sink armed
merchant ships carrying central band
without notice. II not armed, the
right Of search and destruction of the
vessel If carrying contra band after
= certain period 10 he agreed upon
by the nations. for the sailors TO take
to the small boats
Second. Neutral passenger vessels
TO be searched. citizens Of enemy
countries taken off as prisoners, the
vessel to carry no rontraband. he not
armed and only sufficient food for the
return trip. # vessel he found to
carry contrahand or ammunition,
after the passengers have reason
able time to take 70 small boats. sink
the ship.
Third Passenger vessels flying
neutral flags to be searched. citizens
Of the enemy countries taken off as
prisoners, prize crew put on ship
citizens of neutral country landed at
nearest neutral port, and vessel taken
as prize Of war
our government will continue the
NE nf submarines tor the protection
Of our rights and peoples. We will
continU" to make the hest and use
them in the manner most effective for
our purposes, and when the time
comes for their use. our government
will not ash amy other nation as TO
how We shall uso them. We will hit
heavy blows and do our best to de-
stroy the commerce of the enemy re
eardless. Talk about civilized war
fare, no war is civilized: it's no pink
tea affair. OF course, the use of the
new weapon, the T-hoat, must change
tho rules of International law. il NC
use tho I'-boat at all II the present
policy Of nations in regard to the
submarine boat is enforced VIC had
better stop the building Of the U-boat
at once. and save the millions of dol
lars being expended daily; otherwise.
its operation would remind you of Il
lot of barn ward ducks, ducking and
diving The U-boat would bow to the
merchant ship please. may
search" Answer, mo, my dear
bang goes the six-inch gun, and sub
marine and crew gone to see Johnny
Green.
II is earnestly contended that no
submarine must sink merchant
ship armed. and carrying ammuni-
tons of war, for chance some neu-
trail citizen may be killed, and. in
fact that you must not sink at all
on account of p neutral citizen being
on ship. This does not look sound TO
me. for the reason that ii would pre-
vent til, submarine from being eff
fective. 1t cannot take on the cargo
of the ship. much less its crew and
neutral citizens Let me say now to
the American people, that the men
of this country in the time of actual
war. will never stand for anything
that does not give them the absolute
right to put the enemy out of bust
ness regardless OF few neutrals that
think more of profit than they do of
their country. am for America first,
last and always. and we have nothing
to do with the affairs OF other ma
tons. Let them fight 1t out among
themselves. IT is true that in time of
war neutrals must suffer. Let them
suffer and endure IL as best they can.
Tho submarine at present is the fe-
male of the species.
EDW. r. TURNBULL. JR..
Lawrence Va