Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-05
Those Dutch Ships.

Protest as they may the Dutch cannot be
greatly disturbed at the United States having
taken their idle shipping in American ports
with guarantees OF liberal pay for the use OF the
vessels and OF full indemnity in case they are de-
stroyed. OF course sum Of gold, however huge,
could compensate for the invasion OF nations
rights or for insult to its sovereignty But Hol-
land has no ground for any such complaint against
the United States. Not only does she suffer no
material loss or injury, but also her honor re-
mains untouched and her strfctest legal rights IN
CHALLENGED. In Communicating her ships which for
long months had lain in our ports and which she
refused put into any sort OF world service un-
der her own flag, our Government simply exer-
cised its clearly established right under the Law
The Hague conference explicitly declared that
belligerent is justified in seiZing and using neu-
traI railway engines and cars coming into or
stalled in the Belligerents territory In the same
Connection writer in the Springfield Republican
quotes Oppenheim, modern authority, to the
|effect that a sorts OF neutral property, whether
1t consists of vessels other means of property,
may be the object of the right of angary, provided
the articles concerned serviceable 10 military
ends and wants" To the layman, indeed, il ap-
pears that the act OF communicating these private
" owned Dutch ships was fully warranted by the
Inherent sovereign power Of the state to take pr-
vate property for public use compensation Of
course being made
The law being so clear and presidents so pIen-
fifuI in support OF our Governments procedure in
this matter. Holland cannot reasonably complain
that her rights her honor in any wise have been
infringed upon. And inasmuch as she is TO be
Daid unStiutinglv Tor the use OF neT property
insured against all losses, her protests are entirely
'ungrounded. Against Germany, the Dutch have
cause indeed for grievance, have all neutrals.
She has sunk their ships without warning and
without regard for the safety Of passengers and
crews. She has terrorized their home waters, de-
stroved millions Of dollars worth of their prop
erty and has slain of their people without
offering any Teparation whatsoever. Germany $
course at sea. on land has been in brutal de-
fiance of the laws and of nations. She has
stretched the doctrine OF military necessity beyond
all precedents and beyond the pale of civilization.
Indeed. she has overleaped the furthest bounds
of military necessity and has plunged into wanton
barbarity: witness her repeated messacres OF civil
Ian populations. her bombing of unfortfied towns
far removed from the field OF war, her killing OF
children and capture of women for slavery
more horrible than any death. Yet with this rec
ord fresh and red upon their hands. the Kaiser
peopIe are vehemently denouncing the United
States along with the other Allies, for the alto
gether legitimate Communicating of the idle
Dutch ships And there are some Dutch papers
which gIfbly parrot this hypocrisy from Berlin.
II is hardly conceivable, however, that the ma
iorv of thoughtful HOllanders do not realize that
under the policy pursued by our Government their
interests will he protected. indeed promoted and
that no wrong has been done their nations SOW
ereignty or honor