Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-27
Dividing the German Fleet.

Y
w Germany surrendered TO it's enemies
under the terms Of the armistice is cues
ton which has harricd tho peace conference
from the start, and that body seems not much
nearer decision than when tho issue first
caihc 10 the front. The only fact upon which
all the powers agreed is that under no
circumstances should any ono OF tho vessels
revert to its former owner. That menace to
world peace must be disposed Of Tho fleet
must DC dissolved and its units parcclcd out
or sunk. They must never by any chance
or by any ilukc fall into German hands again.
The easiest possible solution for the prob
ION would be TO bury the ships at sea- They
might DC taken out to Il point where the
depth OF water is all but unfathomable tbcir
scacocks opened and with proper services and
appropriate ceremonies be given Il grand
funeral. This would remove forever the ships
from danger and would settle all questions
The victorious group Of nations
And yet there is more or less valid obiec-
tion TO that sort Of thing Moro than a bill
non OF dollars is invested in this feet It
represents the labor of thousands of men
ioF MANY long years and ii seems to many
people a foolish idea to add this treasure TO
that already lost in the most destructive OF
all wars II seems to them that some better
use could be found for such an armada.
example which have no nayics Of their
own and no means OF self-dcfcnsc upop the
seas. The fleet might properly be divided
among such governments, or it might be
parccled out to the larger powers, upon which
VIII rest tho responsibility, after ALL OF polio
ing the world i'll the years to come
Even II a general policy OF disarmament
or reduction OF ornaments we're to come
as result OF the league Of nations, tho en-
DlOymeQt q
by the allies need not be in conflict with
that program. Soon or late the vessels which
are now in allied hands will pass out through
deterioration. They will become useless in
time and 1t is not supposed in any quarter
that disarmament will become an accom-
pliShed TACT for many years to come Com
mon sense opposes the rash plan OF sending
inc German 1ieet to the bottom or the sea
Some better disposition Of it should he
worked out by The peace conference
The people OF tho Philippine Islands have
been tutorcd under policy of benevolent
assimilation intended to qualify them for
better citizenship for Il great many yoors
They now feel that they have progressed 10
the stage where they are qualified for. and
are justly entitled To, scif-govcrnmcnt How
ever many different arguments may he uscd
to support this claim, the whole will he en-
]
! fight mat accrucs under President Wilson'S
| enumeration OF the principle OF self-dctcrmi-
hat>oh for peoples subjected to the will of
foreign power Hence these islands have
sent mission to this country to submit an
appeal TO President Wilson, to be trans
inittcd 10 him by Secretary of War Baker
for national independence. This plea will bo
submitted to Secretary Baker on Apru i
| The personnel OF the mission embraces Nom
bcrs of the Philippine Senate and House pro
|. lessons of the University of the philippinos
and representatives OF the commerce. industry
and agriculture of the island. In making tho
argumnt of sclf-dctermination the foundation
Tor their hope OF freedom, the Filpinos are
understood TO count confidently on the sun
port OF all those people in this country who
nave urged action by the United States in
behalf Of selfdetcrmination for ireland
ndcr the plea that will thus be brought
forward, 1t would seem its denial by the
United States government would be difficult
TO justify, If IT proposes 10 pursue line of
consistency with rcsSect TO doctrines 1t has