In the same way, the shelling of the British trawlers was totally uncalled for; and since it is not to be supposed that the German fires merely for the amusement of discharging his guns, another conclusion is forced upon us. It will be noticed that shots were fired while the boats were being lowered in the cases of the Dauntless, Benbow, and Ireland. With what object, except to take life? Upon the occasions under review the German missed his mark; but this does not always happen, as the study of other cases will show.
Apart from the firing, the examples quoted show the German as thief, although in the sinking of the Invercauld the pirates defeated their own ends, so far as food was concerned. The giving of a receipt for the articles taken was in accordance with the German Prize Regulations, which lay down that: “H.M. ships can, in case of need, replenish from the cargo and from the non-consumable and consumable stores of captured enemy ships (a receipt being given for anything taken) if the articles are not proved beyond doubt to be neutral.”
The incidents connected with the sinking of the Alfred make one speculate as to the standard by which German naval officers regulate their conduct. It is inconceivable that any British commander would allow his men to laugh and sneer at a number of hapless seamen struggling in the water. This German officer, however, did not hesitate to do so.
The looting of the Swedish steamer Snetoppen is interesting in view of the regulation above quoted in connection with the Invercauld. It is a case of the Pirate as Thief amongst neutrals. The Germans behaved like common housebreakers, and showed the same spirit which their comrades of the German Army exhibited early in the war, when they ransacked chateaux and private houses during their first advance.
It will be in place here to glance at other provisions contained in the German Naval Prize Regulations. These should be borne in mind when reading about the actual deeds of the German submarine officers here collected. The Regulations were published in the Reichs-Gesetzblatt at Berlin on the 3rd August, 1914. The first of the “General Provisions” reads:—
“The commanding officers of H.M. warships have the right during a war, in accordance with the following provisions, to stop enemy or neutral merchant ships, to search and capture them as well as the enemy and neutral goods in them, and in exceptional cases to destroy them.”
Clause 4 of the General Provisions states:—“All measures are to be carried out in a manner the observance of which—even towards the enemy—is demanded by the honour of the German Empire, and with such consideration for neutrals as is in accordance with international law and German interests.”
Clause 6 sets out the vessels that are exempt from capture. These include: “Hospital ships, vessels employed exclusively in coast fisheries, or small boats employed in local trade, so long as they do not take any part whatever in hostilities.”
There are two clauses dealing with ships which endeavour to escape. The first states that: “A neutral ship is to be treated as an enemy ship if she forcibly resists the exercise of the right of stoppage, search, and capture; force may be used against the ship in question until she ceases to resist; attempted flight alone does not count as forcible resistance.” On the other hand, Article 83 declares: “If the ship does not stop when signalled, two rounds of blank are to be fired, one after the other; and, if necessary, a live shell across her bows. If the vessel does not then bring to, or offers resistance, the commander will compel her to stop.”
No excuse can be made for the German commanders, in view of these regulations. Their Government ordered them to behave in the manner demanded by the honour of the German Empire, and in accordance with international law and German interests. Their conduct has shown the world the meaning of the word “honour,” as understood within the German Empire. For international law, of course, they have never attempted to show the slightest respect; but it is possible that they really believed they were serving German interests by behaving as bloodthirsty pirates. The mad doctrine of “frightfulness” which has been preached to Young Germany from a thousand pulpits and in a thousand schools all over the Central Empire, has killed all sense of morality in the modern Teuton. The German thinks he can terrorise the world by acts of mere savagery: this is the deadly error which has cut his country off from the civilised nations of the globe.