Excerpt from Defenders of Democracy: Lanett, Shawmut, Langdale, Fairfax, Riverview

On the third of February last, I officially laid before you the extraordinary announce ment of the Imperial German Government that on and after the first day of February it was its purpose to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its submarines to sink every vessel that sought to approach either the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of Europe or, any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany within the Mediterranean.

That had seemed to be the object of the German submarine warfare earlier in the war; but since April of last year the Imperial Government had somewhat restrained the com manders of its undersea craft ln conformity with its promise then given to us that passen ger boats should not be sunk, and that due warning would be given to all other vessels which its submarines might seek to destroy, when no resistance was offered or escape at tempted, and care taken that their crews were given at least a fair chance to save their lives in their open boats.

The precautions taken were _meager and haphazard enough, as was proved in dis tressing instance after instance in the progress of the cruel and unmanly business, but a certain degree of restraint was observed.

The new policy has swept every restriction aside. Vessels of every kind, whatever their flag, their character, their cargo, their destination, their errand have been ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy for those on board - the vessels of friendly neutrals, along with belligerents.

Even hospital ships and ships carrying relief _to the-sorely bereaved and stricken peo ple of Belgium, though the latter were provided with safe conduct through the proscribed areas by the German Government itself and were distinguished by unmistakable marks of identity, have been sunk with the same reckless lack of compassion or of principle.

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