The Red Ensign is for the Mercantile Marine. The Blue Ensign
is for any Government service except the Navy. The Red and Blue Ensigns
have the Union Jack in their upper inside quarters, but no St. George's
Cross.)
The Mercantile Marine lost nearly fifteen thousand men killed; we ought
to say murdered; for while a blockader can take ships and cargoes that
try to run contraband (that is, whatever the blockader can rightfully
proclaim to be forbidden) he must not kill the crews. The British
merchant seamen fought; and the Germans said that was why they had to
kill them. But it was the Germans who forced them to fight in
self-defence. And that makes all the difference. When our enemies,
Germans or others, can prove one case of such murder against the British
Navy we shall punish the murderer ourselves. But they have not found
that one case yet, while we have found close on fifteen thousand, not
counting soldiers, passengers, women, or children. The Germans aimed at
scaring off the sea those merchant seamen whom they could not kill,
disable, or make prisoners.
Pages:
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406