The Taihape Daily Times FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1916. SUBMARINE PIRACY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 60, 10 March 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times

FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1916. SUBMARINE PIRACY.

AND WAIMAEINO ADVOCA.TE

(With, which is incorporated The Tai bape Post and Waimarino News.)

The Am erica n - German submarine quarrel has dragged along with such uninteresting monotony that anything respecting it, now cabled, attracts but little attention. To some it will have proved a study in duplicity and cunning, as well as an exhibition of how far the use of the tongue can corruptly be used in concealing thoughts and intentions,' but certainly not of disclosing them. American political leaders are well aware that Germany has plotted to wreck anything and everything in America that stood in the way of her policy of piracy and murder; Germany even went so far as to conspire to

feet a rupture between Congress and President, broad-casting bribes in wholesale munificence to attain her •ends. Congress has, however, voted almost solid for the President’s honourable stand against Americans being forced into travelling in ships sanctioned by Germany, and in Congress the Germans and their bribecs stood revealed in their insignificant loneliness. Germany’s answer to that vote reached us yesterday afternoon; it states that she will govern, her submarines fn ; accordance with international 'law pro-

vided the other belligerents do not vio late such law. It is known from long intimate, and forceful experience th'

German intentions ar e what they always were, and that there will be nr cessation of the policy of piracy, pillage, and murder of non-combatantsi — men, women, and children —that she has from the 'first practised. Germany has established laws of her own and those who expect that she wifi forego following' them in favour o any international agreement will be woefully disappointed. She- will dc nothing of that kind until crushed into helplessness and submission. America, by a fairly solid vote, has agreed that the Allies have a perfect right to arm merchantmen for defensive purposes: and that she will not approve of any act by Germany or any other nation that is opposed to this view. Interntional law is distinctly on the side of America’s decision, and we'; may wait interestingly to see what action America will take when Germany submarines the next ship involving the los of American life. It need not be expected that the United States will gr to war with Germany, but the Allies will! have that which will bo more valuable in prosecuting their campaign, and that is the full moral support of the States’ Government. In the meantime, Germany will pursue the course that she has followed all along, and which she has, nor ever had, any intention of departing from, despite the duplicity, lying, and cunning she has displayed in her diplomatic campaign.