Evening star., 1941-10-22
Wonton Aggression

Wanton Aggression
If any lingering doubts remained
concerning the determination of the
Axis powers to rule the high seas at
all costs, they should be dissipated
| by the Wanton destruction of the
| American freighter Lehigh.
The 9,000-ton ship was torpedoed-
undoubtedly by a German or Italian
Submarine-about 9 pm. Sunday in
the Atlantic Ocean, just north of
the Equator and off the bulge of
Africa. Hitler has not had the
temerity to include that area in his
arbitrarily defined war zone. The
freighter carried no cargo and, al
though flying the American flag,
evidently was attacked without warn
ing, since reports indicate some
Of the crew were injured by the ex-
ploSlon, or, in other words, before
they could take to the lifeboatS.
This is a fragrant act of agrees
sion. In previous attacks on Ameri-
can merchant ships the Germans at
least have had some basis for the
claim that the ships were carrying
cOntraband. But not even that alleged
justification exists in this instance,
and, furthermore, it is evident from
the manner of the Lehigh's sinking
that the Axis submarine commander
made no effort to ascertain whether
the ship was carrying any cargo
Contraband or otherwise.
These facts add up to but one con-
cluSion-that the German Navy, pre-
sumably with Italian support, is
waging what amounts to war against
American shipping. Some Ameri-
cans may look at the language Of
the Neutrality Act and conclude
that we are at peace with the world
and neutral, too, but not even the
most highly optimistic can believe
any longer that the Axis holds a
similar view
In recent weeks two American de-
StroyerS have been attacked in wa
terS this side of Iceland, one attack
resulting in damage to the kearny
and the loss of eleven American
sailors. Among merchant ships, the
Robin Moor, the Steel Seafarer and
now the Lehigh have been sent to
the bottom. This record, as whole,
makes it clear that American ship
ping is not safe anywhere on the
seven seas under any circumstances,
and the evidence is strong that it
is not safe because the Axis has
determined to spare no effort to
drive the shipping of all other nations
from the oceans.
That is the blunt challenge
underScored by the ineXcuSable de-
Struction of the Lehigh-Which con-
fronts this Nation. 1t is a challenge
which we cannot avoid by pretending
that it does not exist
At this time the Senate is con-
sidering legislation to permit the
arming Of American merchant ships
an insufficient and Intellectual So
luton of the problem which has been
posed for us. 1t also has been pro-
posed that we go further and lift
the legislative restraints imposed on
the entry of American ships into
British and other war-bound ports,
or, as an alternative, that we repeal
the Neutrality Act in it's entirety.
Either of these latter steps is highly
desirable and should be taken with
out more delay.
If the time has come, however,
when American ships are to be sunk
without warning and without
shadow of legal right, it may well
be asked whether even outright re-
peal of the Neutrality Act would be
an appropriate answer to the Axis
challenge. By any Interpretation of
international law, the torpedoing of
the Lehigh was an act of war, calling
for a far graver decision by the
American people than whether to
amend or repeal our neutrality law.