BARALONG CASE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2671, 18 January 1916, Page 5

BARALONG CASE

GERMANY REPLIES TO GREAT BRITAIN PIRATES PREACH HUMANITY HINTS OF REPRISALS By TolezraDh—Press Association—OopyrieJrt _ Amsterdam, January 16. The German reply to the British Note concerning the Baralong case protests indignantly against the unheard-of and unproved accusations against the German army and navy, "which have observed in the present war the principles of law and Humanity." It justifies the' Arabic case, because she was trying to ram a submarine; justifies the bombarding of thei British submarine El 3 on the Danish coast, because the submarine fired a gun; and justified the Ruel case, as a suitable reprisal against an illegal blockade. In all three cases the Germans aimed only i at destroying enemy ships, and not help- ; less persons. Germany refuses to submit the cases ' with the Baralong case to an American Court, because accusations against German soldiers and sailors must be investigated by impartial German authorities. Germany expects Great Britain to do the same, and punish cowardly and treacherous murderers; but as the British reply does not correspond with the seriousness of the situation, Germany finds it impossible to discuss the affair further with England." Therefore, Germany declares that Britain, under futile pretests, has accepted the responsibility for a crime which is a disgrace to international law and humanity, bpcause she refused to spare her enemies who were put out of action in pursuit of a Ic-gally-recognised submarine war., Thus Germany is obliged to undertake the punishment of this unexpiatcd crime, and to devisd reprisals to meet the British challenge. HISTORY OF THE CASE. The Baralong case was the subject of an' accusation by Germany that a Brit- : isk armed steamer, the Baralong, mur-, dered in cold blood the crew of a Ger- : man submarine' which hadVeunk the steamer Nicosian. It has been stated i that tlio submarine concerned was the same which-sank the Arabic, and the \ Baralong incident occurred" imme'diatelyv I after that tragedy. In reply to the ' German accusation, Sir Edward Grey sent a Memorandum to Mr. W. H: Page (American Ambassador): The British Government notes with satisfaction, though with some surprise, the German j anxiety that the principles of civilised j warfare should be vindicated. It is j evident that to single out the case of • the Baralong is the height' of absurdity, j and he suggests that the whole question of atrocities by land . and sea might be ; fitly examined by an impartial tribunal, i As the multitude of allegations against Germany would overload the tribunal, the inquiry might be confined .to three incidents which occurred within a few ' hours of the Baralong allegations, lie ! Memorandum continues that Britain j does not accept the allegations, but in. any, case, the charge .is negligible com- : pared with ■the crimes which seem to have been deliberately committed by German officers. It recalls the fact that within forty-eight hours of the j Nicosian affair a German-submarine torpedoed the Arabic. No effort was made to save the crew, and forty-seven non-combatants lost their lives by this act of barbarism.. The second incident was that a German destroyer fired on a stranded British submarine (El 3) on the Danish ; coast', and when the crew attempted to swim ashore the' destroyer .-fired on |.them. Forty-eight hours later a Gor< , man submarine fired shrapnel at the steamer Ruel, when one man was killed, and eight wounded. No statement was 1 offered, justifying this cold-blooded and • cowardly outrage. j The Memorandum, concludes: —"These incidents might, with the case of the j Baralong, be brought before an impartial Court, say, of officers of the Aroeri- j can Navy, and Britain will do all in her power to further the inquiry and to \ j carry out the findings of the Court.'.' '• DANISH NEWSPAPER REFRESHES THE i ENEMY'S MEMORY ! Copenhagen, January 16. | The Conservative newspaper "Na-". • tional Tidende," commenting on the j Baralong case, says that Denmark ought still to remind Germany .of her violation, of neutrality when the crew of El 3 wero fired on, some killed in cold blood, awj the 'submarine destroyed, by Germaf sailors. DISCUSSION IN GERMAN PARLIAMENT j HERR LIEBKNECHT CREATES & : SCENE. ' Amsterdam, January 16. The subject cropped up in the Reich- | stag. Herr Ridebour deprecated making reprisals, saying that humane laws must be observed. _ . . ■ Herr Liebknecht (Socialist) declared ! that Germany was merely exploiting the ; incident to stir up the neutrals. Members of the Reiohstag were so in- ; censed that the . President was forced ; to adjourn the sitting. j (Rec. January 17, 11.25 p.m.) j Amsterdam, January 17. Herr Zimmecmann, referring to tbs. Baralong case, assured the Reichstag ; that they would find .the means to punish "this revolting deed sharply and ' j impressively." j

SCURRILOUS COMMENT

| GERMAN PRESS VITUPERATION. ] i, Amsterdam, January 16. German newspapers, tkmmenting on ; the Baralong Note, surpass themselves in vituperation. ; The "Vossische Zeitung" says the_ offer of arbitration is a cunning trick. ; The-British Navy's honour is polluted. The paper darkly hints that reprisals ] have already been devised. , ! The "Kreuz Zeitung" says + hat Bnt- i isli sailors and officers are degrading themselves to the rank of hangman's servants. It adds : "The Germans ara fighting for moral ideals." i