| |
| |
Caption: War Publications - WWI Compilation 1923 - Article 14
This is a reduced-resolution page image for fast online browsing.
EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:
were even charged with attacking German submarines. How sub. marine commanders, in view of their practice of destroying without searching and verifying the character of the cargoes carried by their victims, could have known that the vessels in question had on'board troops and munitions is not apparent. Most of the relief ships thus destroyed were in fact of neutral nationality and could have had no motive in transporting troops or munitions for either belligerent. No evidence was ever offered in support of the charges made by the Germans, and the vigorous denial of the officials of the Relief Commission may be taken as an absolutely truthful statement of the facts. Such is the manner in which German naval commanders have respected the rules of their own prize code promulgated by the German government on August 3, 1914. It is nard to see how it can be reconciled with the noble utterance of Germany's great diplomat, Marschall von Bieberstein, at the second Hague Conference: 'The officers of the German Navy, I loudly proclaim it (jc le dis & voix haute)> will always fulfill in the strictest fashion the duties which emanate from the unwritten law of humanity and civilization. As to the sentiments of humanity and civilization, I cannot admit that there is any government or country which is superior in those senti1 ments to that which I have the honor to represent." l U Denxieme Conference de la Paix. AcUs et Documents. T. III. o. 382.
| |
