The New York herald., 1922-01-11
Useful in Small Conflicts.
Not in World War, Says
Admiral Bertram.
TO ENGLAND'SADVA
Vice-Admiral Dick Calls 1t a
Step Ahead, but Inadequate
Compromise.
BY RAYMOND SWING.

BY RAYMOND SWING.
Special Cable 10 THE NEW YORK HssAfp.
Copyright 1899. by THE NEW YonK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Berlin. Jan. 10.
Germany possesses merchant ships.
but no submarines. hence she will
ratify the Root resolution restricting
submarine warfare. German opinion.
1t Is foreseen, will be fairly united in
this merely as a matter of practical
politics, for it is pointed out that the
Government will not defend the war
acts committed under TIE Kaiser's
regime at the cost of the existing ex-
port trade
The attitude Of the Foreign Office is
that Germany agrees to the principle
Of the Root resolution and under the
present conditions has everything to
Nevertheless official circles show al
most incomprehensibe tirnidity about
voicing opinions. This may be partly
due 10 the fact that the use of the
exposed nerve in German political
life
1t is declared that Chancellor Wirth
probably could rot be ready 10 express
an opinion on the Root resolution until
he had given Il serious consideration
requiring several days. The Leaders of
the former kaiser's navy, however, were
not so timd and the two THE New
Inn I'D
agreed that Germany must indorse the
Root resolution and they accepted it
though not without certain reservations
as a step toward the humanizinS of
warfare which they whole heartedly
supported. Admiral Bertram declared
that it would be useful in wars between
two or three Powers and could then be
enforced
But in a vor1a war, as we have
learned he ao 'sd. might takes pre-
cedence over lesa'''es and the strong
est enforces wha ~ver measures he
deems best to his interests. Assuming
that America and Japan were fighting
and that one tried 10 use submarines to
destroy all the shipping in the others
harbors, there would be a preponderant
power of neutrals to make this if1lpos-
slble under the Root resolution. If a war
involves too many nations. however.
there would rot be enough interest at
stake to keep such agreements effec-
lively.
Calls Resolution One sided.
II find the resolution one sided now
because it does not prohibit the arming
of merchant vessels. II handicaps a
nation possessing submarines and is to
the advantage OF one possessing the
largest merchant heet--Englaud in other
In, a. Sc sit
be foolish not to ratify And surely the
business man will agree TO IL. for what
is OF Importance TO him Is not whether
submarine technic is being dtlized or
not. but whether his shipments are Sc
cure. And ] repeat that so long as a
var does not involve too many coun-
tries German trade is beins protected
by these limitations
Vice-Adrliral Dick, who served in
marine headquarters during the war.
also feVors ratification by Germany ard
approves the effort toward the human
izing of warfare.
cit is n step anead." he said, "and
since It represents some progress il
must be approved. But aralyzed alb
stractly IL Is an inadequate compromise
;,nd might be called an English victory.
since e penalties countries which might
hurt English trade without ut the same
time preventing tho Illegal Gsc OF Eng
lands power ] agree that war should
be humanized. and should be restricted
ic possible TO actual engagements be-
,ween fighting forces both OF land and
on water. But the Root resolution
merely touches the problem and Joes
not solve Il. What L should like 70 see
IS similar prohibition regarding mine
laying. p similar prohibition Of illegal
bloclades and regulations forcing any
nation 10 protect neutral lives and reu-
trel property That would insure FREQ
dom OF tue seas, which Is what really
needs to be gained.
THE submarine is the weapon of the
small nations and the Root resolution
paralyzes their power" Nice-Admiral
Dick referred TO the attitude OF the
French naval experts against the Root
resolution as n verificatlon OF Ger
msnys legal right to use the U-boats
as It did.
a New Discovery.
"The submarine was new dlscov-
cry" he said. "end like all rev discov-
erios had to de Tine It's own preroEativss.
The E'renc, appreciate that suppression
OF the submarine alone. without lifnita-
tion OF other aaval powers. is n one
sided arrangement TO their disadvantage
ond Englaud's gain. The outcry against
Gernsny's suoma rinc warfare was skill
ful British propaganda and the world
Is now beginning TO appreciate that it
was legally not justified. As q matter
Of fact. It was a Lesser evil OF naval
practices. for the lives lost through suo-
marine warfare totalcd only 10000, COM
pared with T0.O00 victims ot tho block
ade against which the submarines were
used"
admiral Brueninghaus. a member OF
the Reichstag. also emphasized the sac
rifice that Frances ratification OF the
Root resolution involves and expressed
the fear that II might prove TO have
been risked only ~ Germany's expense.