A SUBMARINE WAR ON COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2387, 17 February 1915, Page 6

A SUBMARINE WAR ON COMMERCE

—» GERMANY'S NEW IDEA Writing "on the subject of employing submarines to sink British merchant vessels, Rear Admiral Schliepner recently contributed a remarkable article to the "Berliner Lokalanzeiger," •in which' tho following sentences are of speoial interest:— "The German has always been a loser with regard to England, as he never could overcome a certain sentimental feeling of justice and delicacy which is especially peculiar to him even in cases where other feelings would havo been more suitable. We waste too much time on purely humane things, which torment and torture us, while our adversaries seize the opportunity and recklessly do us harm whenever and whereever that can be done. So, too, how that England is waging a business war against us and hopes to be able to crush us economically, we have been contented till now with occasional parrying. We must without doubt return tit for tat and begin a systematic and reckless war of retaliation against British commerce. 1

"For this we possess a most efficient tool in our submarines. Here we havo a new weapon in our hands which, though only recently and carefully developed by us, has already proved a splendid success. It has shown results which liave not remained unnoticed by neutral Powers, and which have done much to harm the alleged .supremacy of Great Britain on the sea. One must strike while the iron is hot, and naturally this new weapon must not merely bo employed against hostile battleships hut also against all ships under the enemy's flag approaching the English .coast. We can announcfe our standpoint to all neutral Powers, but then no • mercy. " 'Oh those German barbarians!' we already hear the honest Englishman say. Towards an enomy like England, who knows no leniency where the question of , reaching her aim is concerned, and who with the greatest want of principle disowns the white race and fights shoulder to shoulder with coloured peoples, towards such an enemy we need know no leniency. England means to crush us, and for that purpose sho will not allow herself to be turned either by treaties or agreements. She also displays unprecedented audacity in tho harm she does to neutral States, all y.'ith the one purpose of crushing us. Have we, then, any reason for answering with special delicacy? Tho German submarine has caused widespread terror; why not- at those places whore supplies are brought to England? "The idea of destroying tho enemy's commerce and troop-transports is sometiling convincing and produce agreeable feelings. In this weapon Germany has an advantage which must bo used quickly and with all determination. Anyone under the enemy's flag who thinks this barbarous or inhuman may do so, hut our advice must bo "Up and at them.' l