FRENCH MILITARY ORGAN

Grey River Argus, 29 March 1922, Page 2

FRENCH MILITARY ORGAN

JUSTIFIES SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA. The 44 New Statesman” of December 31, in dealing with the question of whether tho submarine is an offensive or a defensive weapon, and the Washington Conference’s discussions in connection therewith, lays it down that the British spokesmen ‘‘did undoubtedly establish their main contentions, namely, that the submarine is essentially an offensive and not a defensive weapon; that it is of comparatively little use against warships but of great use against merchant shipping; and that so long as it exists there is no way of preventing its being used as the Germans used it.” It is pointed out that the French re presentative, Admiral de Bon did not challenge the second of these conclusions, but rather emphasised the “special efficiency” of submarines against merchantmen. It is true he declared his abhorrence of the “barbarity” of the “unlimited” submarine warfare carried on by Germany, but the “New Statesman” says the value of this declaration is somewhat seriously discounted by two facts, the first of which is that it is only when the submarine ignores all the rules of sea-warfare and the rights of non-combatants that, it is efficient even against merchantmen. The. second fact is the recent publication, in the official organ of the French Ministry of Marine, the “Revue Militaire,” of the following opinio..’— “! •' is high time we got rid of the inisle; ling ideas which are prevalent regaiiiiiig the use made by Germany of the submarine as a war weapon. The submarine war was completely justifiable. . . It is time also to explode the belief that the use of the submarine by Germany was inconsistent with the usages of international warfare. This view, which was circulated erroneously during the war, might dangerously prejudice our national defence in the future. . . . It is quite unjustifiable to contend that an enemy merchant ship should be warned before being torpedoed. ’ ’ This quotation is a translation made by Mr W. 11. Dawson for the “Westminster Gazette.” The “New Statesman” comments: 4 ‘Here, then, is the position. The French demand an enormous submarine fleet; they declare that submarines are ‘specially efficient’ against merchant shipping; and the French Admiralty circulates an article which defends, without reserve, the practice of torpedoing non-combatant vessels without warning.” It was the opinion of Mr Balfour, expressed in the discussion, that anybody who looked at the matter from the strictly strategical and tactical point of view would certainly say that these submarines were to be built against Great Britain.