The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-23

While the army h LAD been successful
in Runania and had given the people
renewed confidence, this was not great
CROUCH to carry the people through
! another hard winter
While Germany had made promises
to lite United states In May that no
ship would be sunk without warn
ing, the submarines were not adher-
ins very closely To the written instruc-
tons. The whole world was aroused
over GeTmanN's repeated disregard OF
the rules and practice OF sea warfare.
President Wilson, through Am bassea .
dor Gerard. had sent nine inquiries
to the foreign office asking for re
port from Germany on the sinking OF
various ships not only contrary 10 In -
ternational law. but contrary 10 Ger
many'S pledges, In al attempt to
ward OF any Of the neutral indict .
ments Of Germany's sea warfare the
official North German Gazette pub
tished an explanation containing the
following
AN OFFICIAL U-BONT
ENCOURAGEMENT
The activity Of the submarines IN
I the Atlantic ocean and white sea has
led the press Of the entire world TO
producing articles as 10 the waeing
OF cruiser warfare by means of sub
; marines. iti both cases il can he
accurately stated that there is no
question Of submarine warfare here.
but of cruiser vrarftre waged with
the support Of submarines, and the
details reported hitherto as to the &C
tipities of our submarines do not ad
NIT OF any either explanation. In spite
OF the endeavors Of tho British press
TO twist and mistepresent facts, 1t
! Is also strictly correct to state that
the cruiser warfare which il being
waged ny means Of submarines liz In
strict compliance with the German
prize regulations. which correspond
to the international rules laid down
and agreed to in the Declaration Of
London. which are not being any
more complied with by En- gland. The
accusations and charges brought for
ward by the British press and propa
RaDda campaign In connection with
ships sunk can be shown rs futile.
az our position ia, both militarily and
| from the standpoint cot international
! law, irreproachable. We do not sink
neutral ships per sc. A. was recently
/ declared In proclamation, hpt the
I ammunition transports and other con-
traband wares conducive to tho pro-
longation of the war. and the rights
OF defensive measures as regards this
cannot be denied Germany any more
than any other country.
Ras4a- on tAis-4.lea- clearly OH
sious that the real ioss of the destrue-
lion Of tonfa sse ,naBst bec aftfilyli4sd to
the supplies sent 10 England and not
to the attitude displayed by Germany,
" hich has but recourse TO purely de-
fensive measures. II tho attitude dis
played by England toward .utrais
! during the course OF this war he CON
sidered, the manner In which It forced
com uisory supplies Of contraband
goods, etc, Il can be further recog-
ni1ed that England is responsible for.
the losses in ships as ii IL owing TO
EnSiand's attitude that the cause il
70 be found
Although England has hit and
crippled legitimate trade to such an
extent. Germany does not wish 20 act
In the same manner but simply TO
stop the shipments OF contra band
goods calculated to lengthen the war.
England evidently in being hard hit
by our defensive submarine measures
and is. therefore, doing All in her
power to incite public opinion against
the German methods OF warfare and
confuse opinion In neutral countries.
sss
Therefore II must Attain b. recalled
( tnSf il IL
England which has crippled nou-
trail trade,
England which has rendered the
freedom OF the seas Impossible!
England which has extended the
risk OF contraband wares in excess Of
international agreements, and now
raises a cry when the same weapons
are used against herself
England which has compelled the
neutrals to supply these shipments Of
contraband goods calculated to length
en- the war;
AS the nAutrals quietly acauiescpd
when there was a question Of aban-
donins trade with the central powers.
they have remedies in hand for the
losses of ships which affect them so
deeply They need only consider the
fac, that German submarines on the
high seas arc abb, to prevent war
services tn the snemv in the shin
ments OF contraband good. In a man
ner that is both, milttarilv and from
tha .tapdnotn+ AZ international law
trreoroachsbls "a th.v agree to de-
.is, fron, mo shin,,rnt NJ contrsband
goods and cease Yielding 10 british
Treasure tben thew viii not have to