Feb. 26, It is astonishing, in view of the manner which the Reich is prosecuting this war, that it should at times show considerable restiveness over the comment which is made in neutral countries concerning it. The atest case is reported from Amsterdam in 'a message which states that the German Government circles are very angry at the bitter comments in the press of the small neutral countries on the subject of the U-boat campaign. They are reported to have threatened that a very sharp answer will be forthcoming if press attacks on Nazi methods of sea warfare are continued, and are said to have stated: "Neutral papers, particularly the Dutch press, must mend their manners. Germany can no longer tolerate accusations against her submarine commanders whose' conduct is even being called barbarous." The moderation of the newspapers of the smaller neutral nations, which are seeing their shipping ruthlessly destroyed in circumstances for which there cannot be the slightest Justification, is indeed remarkable, when they confine themselves merely to referring to the barbarity of the conduct of the German commanders. 'They could with equal justice, and the same degree of moderation brand it as cowardly as well, for this intensive submarine warfare is not' being directed against all neutrals but only those without much power of retaliation. Thus while with a malevolent glee the Germans enjoy the destruction of Danish, Netherlands, Norwegian, Swedish and even Greek vessels, not to mention a number of other nations, it is to be noticed that the shipping of the United States, Italy and Japan—with one exception—is carefully not molested. The Reich knows full well that it were to adopt the same tactics against the mercantile marine of those countries it would very quickly be pulled up and told to behave itself, with the knowledge that those countries would be able to impress their views as to the sanctity of their shipping in the only manner which the German appears to understand. The German conduct of their submarine war is therefore not only barbarous but cowardly.
Where such newspapers as the "Algemoon Handelsblad" err in the comment they make is in characterising the German nation as a seafaring one. That it does in times of peace maintain and run several very efficient shipping lines is readily admitted, that its mercantile marine has amongst its personnel very many capable sailors is true, but that the German nation has behind it all the grand traditions of the real seafaring races is emphatically denied by the manner in which its naval men are behaving. Whatever praiseworthy qualities there are to be found in the German conduct of shipping in peacetime is completely negatived by the conduct of its navy in times of war. The history of the last war first showed this to be the case, and all that has happened since this present struggle begun. One of the great qualities of the sea-faring races is that high degree of chivalry induced by a realization of the ordinary perils of the sea, the insistence upon securing the safely of the other man in times of danger, and the willingness to take all manner of risks to save the lives of those Involved. The German navy ignoring all the high tradition that countless centuries of human acquaintance with the sca has built up, is in addition wilfully ignoring all those' written conventions through which it was' hoped to make sea warfare rather more' human than otherwise it would be. 'The Netherlands' steamer Tara the latest to be: sunk, is not the only vessel, belligerent neutral, which has been sunk without warning. The German intention with regard to this form of warfare was made known a few hours after the outbreak of war when the Athenia was foully torpedoed, and there has been no real relaxation since." In a very Targe number of cases all that the German submarine commanders have done to secure the safety of the crews of vessels they intended to sink, was to sce that the men got away in' their lifeboats, regardless of the distance from land, or the remoteness of the possibility of their being picked up by a passing vessel, or of the possible wea~ ther conditions. That generality has to be modified by the admission that on occasion some of the German commanders have displayed a humanity which does them infinite credit, but which at the same time throws the conduct of others into sharp contrast.
The "Algemoon Handelsblad" finds that there is a deliberate plan in existence not only to torpedo without warning, but to pick fon ships sailing on behalf of small neutral countries which are dependent on supplies from other neutral lands overseas. This is not the prosecution of war against contraband which might be carried in neutral bottoms, but the wilful destruction of goods originate ing in one neutral land and being destined for another, and that with a complete regard of those conventions which are sup posed to be recognized amongst civilized nations. It is because of this that such irritation is felt in Berlin. It is uncomfortable for even the most callous conscience to have the iniquities of its possessor so pun~ gently pointed out, and the statement that a very sharp answer will be forthcoming unless the neutral press changes its tone is in all probability very near the truth, The coward and bully resents the publica~ ition of his derelictions, resents the scorn which his wrongdoing brings down upon him, and will seck to avenge himself on those weaker than himself, The Reich would not dare to do to the shipping of the big neutrals what it is doing to that of the small. It realizes that the ability of the former to make it behave itself is something which Berlin cannot afford to ignore. Its submarine campaign against convoyed British shipping has been shown to be the egregious failure it was anticipated it would be, only two-tenths of one per cent. of vessels so protected falling victims to German attack. 'The German resentment over the Allies' decision to arm their vessels for defensive purposes 1s in itself an indication of that self-same cowardice which inspires these attacks upon. defenceless neutrals. It is safer to attack an unarmed vessel, whether belligerent or neutral, better to scuttle warships instead of fighting it out. If Germany has any claim to be a seafaring nation the manner in which it betrays the tradition of the seas would most surely negative it. The decent German must resent this sort of thing, the other type resent the fact that their iniquities are thus manfully revealed by the newspapers of the neutral countries thus attacked. Hence this latest threat to people who cannot be expected to hit back.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.