The New York herald., 1922-04-30
Merchant Ship War Status
Reveals Conflicting Views
Held by European Nations
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| traband. They always have, and sc
ways will. Therefore must il not be
admitted that a merchant vessel re-
tains her identity even though loaded
with contrband:
ments there is feeling that the Italians
are right: that merchant ship must
not mount guns for offense or defense
The treaty regulating the conduct OF
the matter.
Submarines are restricted in their
pursuit OF commerce. Article I. Of the
treaty states that "A merchant vessel
TO submit to visit and search after
warning. or to proceed as directed after
seizure" In the same article is the
following provision: "A merchant ves-
sci must be ordered to submit to visit
and search to determine its character
before it can be seized" and III a sub
marine cannot capture a merchant ves-
sci in conformity with these rules the
existing law OF nations requires it to
desist from attack and from seizure and
to permit the merchant vessel to pro-
ceed unmolested."
Submarine Armament.
The very best submarines of to-day
can carry no larger than six inch guns.
And to date no submarine has carried
more than single weapon OF that size.
Not only this, but so far as Is known
no submarine is even planned which will
carry greater weapons for commerce
raiding duties.
But merchant vessels can carry any
number OF six inch guns. The Maure
tania could carry twenty or thirty of
them. The fastest submarines of to-
day have speeds Of but twenty-one
knots. while merchant liners have
speeds up to twenty-seven knots. There
fore If merchant vessels can be armed
enemy submarines, for IF submarine
cannot capture merchant vessel in
conformity with these rules the exist
ing law OF nations requires it to desist
from attack and from seizure and per-
NIT the merchant vessel to proceed un-
molested.'
In other words, the merchant ship
might attack the submarine and com
aIat ..i,i H. lima /.
rine would be required by law to re-
frain from torpedo attack. A merchant
vessel might leave port heavily armed
and act as a commerce raider on the
carrying supposed neutrals and non
combatants In her cabins TO enforce her
immunity.
II would not be the first time that
passenger liners nave peen used as
commerce raiders. Classed as "auxil-
larry cruisers these vessels have en-
circicd the globe on such cruises. Large
German liners went to sea even as mine
layers as well as commerce raiders
Why should these vessels be immune
from submarine or surface attacks
merely because of the merchant ship
classification and a non-military crew?
The build and natural employment OF
vessel have nothing TO do with 1t
Line Between War and Peace.
The line between war and peace forces
should be drawn by the guns. Either
defense or attack are warlite measures
and a ship that Is fitted for one can be
used for the other. II she Is n merchant
vessel. carrying neutrals and noncom-
batants. and thus immune from disas-
trous attack. then she should be de-
fenseless and offenseiess. Contra band
Is Il different matter.
The suggestion to keep merchant ves-
sells entirely out of the naval sphere is
wholly impracticable. The merchant
ship is effectively u part of the navy of
It's nation. Even during peace times
ships OF merchant types are used In
navies as transports, supply ships, col
liers, tankers and for host of other
duties. To every battleship In our navy
there are at least two merchant ships
for supply and maintenance duties
When our merchant marine was being
reborn one of Its most exploited reasons
for existence was that II is a most neces-
sary auxiliary to the navy. We must
have a merchant marine capable of
maintaining our fleet In any sphere OF
operations. But we will never class
these merchant ships when employed for
naval duties as Of the civilian marine.
They will be naval ships and manned by
naval crews. The same conditions should
be applicable to every other navy In the
world.