Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-01
Eye Fer. An Eve is
u. S. Reply to Hun
Threat of Reprisa]s

Washington. Oct. LIN a note brist-
ling with, defiance Secretary Of State
Lansing rejected the German ultima
tum demanding suspension Of the use
Of shotguns by American troops, told
Germany that this weapon will be re-
tanned, and gave solemn warning that
IL in single instance the Germans
carry out their threat to execute Am
erican prisoners, reprisals in kind will
be adopted by the United States.
Secretary Lansing practically brands
Germany as an outlaw nation that can
not with clean hands protest against
any weapon THAT may be turned
against it, State department officials
defended the shotgun and. said it
could not be compared with the fam
menwerfer," the poisoned gas shells,
or the saw tooth bayonet used by the
Germans.
The German threat was presented
to the state department by the Swiss
charge daffaires on Sept 10.
lansing's Defiance.
Secretary Lansing's reply was a
note Of three paragraphs. He. ac-
knowledged receipt of the protest Of
the German government against the
use of shotguns by the American
army" and added:
I'm reply to the German protest the
government Of the United States has
Hague convention. sited in the protest,
does not in it's opinion. forbid the use
Of this kind Of weapon. Moreover. in
view Of the history of the shotgun as
a weapon OF warfare. and in view Of
the we'll known effects Of its present
use, and in the light Of comparison
of 1t with other weapons approved in
warfare, the shotgun now in use-by
the American army can not be the
subject Of legitimate or reasonable
protest.
"The government OF the United
States notes the threat Of the German
government to execute every person
of war found to have in his possession
shotguns or shotgun ammunition. Not
withstanding this threat. inasmuch as
the weapon is lawful and may be
rightfullY used, it, use will not be
abandoned by the American army.
Moreover. If the German government
should carry out its threat in. a single
instance, it will be the right and duty
of the government of the United
States to make such >reprsals as will
best protect the American forces. and
notice is hereby given Of the intention
of the United States to make such re-
prisa1s'
Germans Cite Hague Ruling.
Article % of The Hague convention
s11H IN &t0
test provides that it is Especially for
hidden to employ arms, projectiles orr
materials calculated to cause unne--
cessary suffering"
"The description may be somewhat
vague" high diplomatic authority
said. but the meaning is clear. No,
precise kinds Of weapons are forbid
den, but the classes Of forbidden ones,
are determined by the tests of pur-
pose and results. The prohibition is
directed not against efficiency in kill
ing, wounding or injuring, but against
cruelty and terrorism. Within such
prohibited category falls. Of course,
the use Of chlorine gas. 'f1ammen-
werfers, or saw tooth bayonets.
article 20 simply calls for compar-
son between 1he injury or suffering
caused and the necessities Of warfare
1t Is legitimate, to kill the enemy and
as many OF them, and as quick as
possible. but an implement of warfare
is to be condemned only when it
wounds or does not kill Immediately
in such way as to produce additional
suffering. III,
Shotgun Legitimate.
THE shotgun is analogous to a
shrapnel shell discharging multitude
of small bullets or machine gun dis
charging spray of bullets.
THE diameter of the bullet is
scarcely greater than that Of a rife or
machine gun. The weight of 1t is much
less. And. IN both size and weight. 1t
is less than, the bullet Of a sArapnel
shell. N ..
1T is apparent, therefore. that the
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