t Dependent on the Facts
AXOTHKK wave of British resentment
/ X su, ,,i>!' over Kngland. inspired hv the exc
:".u,lu" 1,1 Captain t'harles Fryatt.' whom a
."rman court martial had found guilty of
a iranc-tireur crime against armed German
'''? 1"|,,s- I hat crime was the effort of
I 'vatt to ram and sink a submarine
?> which his vessel had been summoned to
halt.
Of course, it is the British contention that
I he attempt to ram the submarine was a jus
tified act Of resistance, such as international
hiw recognizes as lawful when a merchant
-mm if? attacked by an rnoiny cruiser. It is
'he (I. rman contention, on the other hand
'hat British merchantmen had instructions to
destroy every submarine that came near them.
*'1 ,hus '? "stirp the functions and preroga
tive oi warships, and the Brussels was carry
niK out these instructions. TI10 British retort
'o this is Hun German submarines had sunk
merchantmen without warning, and that
therefore, the appearance of an undersea boat
was n it sol | notice that attack was meditated.
. '"ally the Germans say that in this particu
lar ease Captain Fryatt had been called on
to half, had received warning and chose,
nevertheless, to try and sink the submarine.
