The Outlook 1916-04-05

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The Outlool APRIL 5, 1916 Offices, 381 Fourth Avenue, New York

THE STORY OF THE WAR: THE SUSSEX CRIME Once more a critical position has arisen as between our Government and Germany be- cause of violations of the laws of the high seas. At this writing the Sussex case has been made the subject of-indirect inquiry through our Ambassador in Germany, but no formal demand has been made upon Ger- many for an explanation. On the other hand, Germany, also indirectly, has intimated that if the Sussex were destroyed by a sub- marine the act was contrary to the general orders issued to submarine officers and would be disavowed and punished. There is no.doubt that the Sussex was unarmed ; that she was a passenger ship (she has been called a sea ferry-boat between France and England) ; that her destruction, whether by submarine or mine, was contrary to the law of nations and atrocious in its character; that a number of Americans were on board and were. put in jeopardy of their lives; that some of them were seriously injured, and that at least one of them is still in danger. It is not certain whether it was a subma- rine or a floating mine that destroyed the Sussex. There is what seems to be a strong body of evidence to the effect that the work was done by a submarine, including, it is said, the testimony of the captain and of others that the approach of the torpedo” was seen before the ship was struck. We hope that in the inquiry as to this incident our Government has included a request to be informed as to whether Germany would justify the destruction of an unarmed passen- ger ship by floating mines. The placing of floating mines in the high seas has always been considered a villainous thing to do, as well as contrary to law. Of late there have been rumors that Germany proposed to justify this very thing. When the Moewe returned to German waters, it was generally reported that she had dropped floating mines as she secretly passed through the North Sea, and it was said also that the destruction of the British battle-ship Edward VII was due to this cause. Added to the many cases in which of late merchant ships, including not a few neutral Scandinavian or Dutch merchant ships, have been attacked, the Sussex incident, unless new evidence gives it a totally different aspect, seems to indicate that it is useless to try to induce Germany, by persuasion, argu- ment, or even threat—as in our several notes—to limit her sea activities within law, reason, and humanity. IN FIELD AND COUNCIL The week (March 22-29) has not been one of notable activity in the battlefield. Around Verdun little progress was made by the Ger- mans in the fifth week of their offensive. The only infantry assault of any note, made on March 28, was to the northwest of Vere dun, in the neighborhood of Dead Man’s Hill, and the front lying between Malancourt and Haucourt. ‘This assault of German in- fantry was driven back with heavy losses by the French. The Russians continued their violent and continuous offensive in the gen- eral region between Dwinsk and Wilna, hurl- ing attack after attack on General von Hindenburg’s line ; and they were active also in Bukowina and Galicia. The Germans claim to have held their own in all these places, but are evidently sustaining a hard ‘defense against a vigorous assault daily renewed. By the British an assault was made on a German salient near Ypres, follow- ing extensive mine explosions ; the German reports admit that gains were made, while the British claim a total of six hundred yards gain through both the first and second lines of trenches. One of the most important incidents of the week was the great conference of the Allies in Paris. It was attended by repre- sentatives, military as well as diplomatic, of France, England, Italy, Russia, and Servia. Among the great military figures there were General Joffre ; Sir William Robertson, Chief 769 te bs we ab <x of © S