"TON FOR TON"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9953, 24 April 1918, Page 15

"TON FOR TON"

COMPENSATION FOR SUBMARINE LOSSES. Roaders who have followed the persistent demand made by the Navy league for a declaration of policy on the part of Bis Majesty's Government that there should be full reparation made by the enemy for merchant shipping losses on the basis of ton per ton of equivalent values, will be interested to read the following leading article which appears in the "JS T ew York Times":— "The Allies in general, and tha American .people in particular, should never lose sight of the fact that the ruthless campaign waged by Germany against all shipping, whether belligerent or neutral, has two very distinct and different objects in view, one military, the _ other sordidly commercial. The first is to prevent the shipment across the Atlantic of troops, supplies and munitions. It is the barbarous methods bv which this purpose is sought to' be achieved, rather than the purpose itself, that all civilisation resents "Germany's second object is so shockinfg, > so repulsive in its nature, that only the most • positive evidence justifies belief in its existence. It i 3 cynically admitted, although not loudly proclaimed, that she. means, as far as possible, to destroy every vessel now afloat, no matter under what flag, so that, at the end of the war, she, alone among the nations, shall possess a numerous mercantile marine with which she calmly proposes to secure a practical monopoly of the world's seaborne commerce. To this end she is building merchantmen as fast as her war needs permit. "In consequence of this monstrous programme, it is imperatively necessary to creato in all the countries _at war with Germany a public opinion and demand which, in the expected event of her defeat, shalld impel the negotiators of peace to see to it that Germany shall replace, ship for ship, or ton for ton, or pay tho cost of replacement, as the Allies may prescribe, every metohant vessel of the Allies unlawfully sunk by her submarines during tho war. Iri this way, and in this way only, can she be taught that revolting inhumanity does not pay. "Another reason for this 1 indispensable condition in tho terms of peace is to prevent her piratical and murderous use of this new weapon from becoming n, precedent in future wars. This reason by itself, will abundantly warrant a' procedure which, otherwise, might appeal to savour of revenge and unnecessary harshness. "It is, indeed, barely possible that, if brought homo to her, a knowledge of this resolve by her enemies would somewhat tend to curb her lust for sinking merchantmen and drowning women and children."