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68
THE FATHERLAND
Fair Play for
Germany and Austria-Hungary
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 1, 1915
WHERE IS THAT NOTE TO ENGLAND?
'1‘ does not take much courage to write sharp
notes to Germany, ringed in as she is by ene-
mies, but where is that note to Great Britain?
If that note had been dispatched in time, it
would have stopped the torpedo that struck the
Arabic.
If the Administration had acted with impar-
tiality and with wisdom, there would-not now be
a crisis in our relations with Germany.
SNIPERS OF THE SEA
E do not know whether or not the captain of the '
German submarine which is alleged to have sunk
thelzlrabic gave warning before he fired his shot; we must
wait until we hear the official German report, for we have
no reason to place any faith whatsoever in the report of the
British commander. A country which fraudulently adopts
the flags of other nations cannot be trusted to tell the truth
when the truth conflicts with its interests. It is evident that
nothing would please Great Britain and her friends more
than a rupture between the United States and Germany, for
in such a rupture the fact would be entirely overlooked that
Great Britain at this moment is aiming a deathblow at the
South by placing cotton on the contraband list. Hence, the
campaign of vilitication inaugurated after the publication
of the stolen documents of the New York World, and,
hence, the cry of indignation raised by the pro-Allies on
account of the attack on the Arabic. .
If any American lives were lost the fault rests upon the
shoulders of our own Government, which should have
warned Americans not to take passage on English men-of-
war and English merchant-ships armed to attack German
submarines. The Arabic was not entitled to protection as a
merchantman. She was not a passenger ship, but a sniper of
the sea. It is openly acknowledged that she had a crew of
100 ritiemen effectively trained to “pot” submarines. This
fact in itself takes her out of the class of ships entitled to
protection under International Law. Our American troops
shot snipers at Vera Cruz. For the same reason, and with
the same justification, Germany destroyed the Arabic.
There is no difference between a sniper on land or sea.
In addition to that the following facts stand out clearly.
The Arabic was admittedly the largest carrier of ammuni-
tion from the United States to Great Britain. She had
just discharged a deadly cargo and she was on her way to
return to the United States to carry to Great Britain an-
other cargo equally deadly. The German submarine com-
mander who would have failed to destroy a ship of this
nature would deserve to be court-martialed for neglect of
duty. It is also acknowledged that the ship on its way
THE 'FATHERL.AND
back carried large amounts of gold. As much as eighteen
million dollars is mentioned in a confidential communica-
tion received by us. This gold was indeed blood-money,
for it was sent to the United States to buy death for Ger-
man soldiers.
Americans have no more right on such a ship than they
have on the firing line. The same people of America un-
doubtedly share this point of. view. It seems to us that at
last a warning should be given to Americans not to embark
on any save-neutral ships. XVe can give this warning with-
out conceding in principle Germany's point of view. The
principle itself should be determined by a court of arbitra-
tion in accordance with the proposed treaty between the
United States and Germany to which Germany has already
given informal assent.
ONE WAY OF BEING NEUTRAL
HE answer of the United States Government to’ all
protests against our traffic in munitions of war.haS
been that the inhibition of this traffic would be an unneutral
act. Again and again the government has said that 0111'
markets were open to all the bclligerents and that if the
Central Powers could buy war supplies here we would be
only too glad to sell them! The New York Evening 51"‘
recently published a little item which sheds eloquent light
on the willingness of our manufacturers to supply indisv
criminately war materials to any of the belligerents We
herewith reprint in full the Sun’: comment anent Rumania’s
attempt to purchase ammunition in this country:
NO SALES TO RUMANIA
FIRMS HERE WON'T SELL Powman TILL ATTITUDE IS
KNOWN
The Government of Rumania wants to bu inunitionsof
war in this country, but she cannot place ier orders 501’
ammunition until she‘ announces just how she intends t0
swing in the Balkan situation. If she swings with German)’
her orders will not be filled by powder companies that itfe
supplying the Allies. If she takes the side of the Allies
she can place her orders easily.
The fact that this situation prevails is taken to indicate
that her attitude in the European war has not been settled.
It was learned in Wall Street yesterday that Rumania has
been seeking in vain to buy powder. The big plants, how-
ever, that have received orders from France have been com‘
pelled to sign a contract that they will not sell to the TCU'
tonic allies.
What will the Administration say to this?
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND MR.
PULITZER
THE New York World maliciously attempts to pervert
the legitimate activities of Germany's representatives
into sinister conspiracies against the peace of this country-
The New York World parades on its pages the stolen
correspondence of Dr. Albert. In making itself the recep-
tacle for that correspondence the New York World aCt5
either as a thief or as a receiver of stolen goods.
The New York lVarld in its news columns and in “5
editorials makes itself the advocate of murder on a large
scale by opposing the embargo on the tools of destruction-
If the faith of his ancestors is not entirely dead in MY-
Pulitzer, we would like to call to his attention three com-
mandments which his newspaper evidently ignores:
