TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1914-11-20
BY am


A. Well, they are the parent stoei
from which all modern civilization has
grown. Their blood and brains saved
the decaylng Roman world IN the time
OF the "Chaos on Nations" They
made Spain when Spain was great
France when France was great, LON
hardy and Tuscany in the Renais
sance. aud England herself. They
built a new. distinct, solid civilization
in the north OF Europe. They drew
out OF themselves al the qualities that
mankind has yet shown Itself capable
Iof: they took unto themselves all the
qualities OF past ages that were useful
and aspirational. They staadled The
Church. They exeelled In early man
ufactures and honest craftsmanship.
They achieved real freedom Ia their
splendid cities. They founded univer.
stiles. and produced scholars. They
have given the world some of itsEreat.
est philosophers, poets and drama.
lists. Since they achieved national
unity, &C great has become their pre-
eminence In science and education
that all the world Is under their tutel-
age In these branches OF human study
and endeayor. They have contributed
very many millions OF immigrants to
the United States, and their blood Is
now in the veins OF all but a majority
OF Americans. To look at their his
tory, TO regard their institutions. 20
study their books or attend their uni,
yersities, 10 meet them In their own
land. and witness their peace, pros
perity, geniality. good living. love for
the arts and reverence for scholar
ship; 10 attend their operas. to meet
them in business In America. to send
your children 10 school with their
children, to see their a~ffectionate
home-life, TO do your banking with
them, to buy your beer, ice-cream,
candies, groceries and delicatessen
from them-why, you'd think they
were a civilized. splendid people. But
not so! The English tell us, and the
American press echoes. OF course, that
they are a horde Of barbarians, single
minded on putting out the light Of the
world.
@. There is a lot OF proof, Of
course, Of the charges against them?
A. Oh, a lott Thousands OF news
papers say It Is true. Boys in their
teens made afidaYits. Lots Of people
know other people who have heard
other people that they know
other people who have e these
atrocities. The very fact that every
story OF cruelty, which an inimical
scrIbbler could find in his memory or
in histories of savage times and
has been brought forward,
prove the veracity OF the
charges. Aren't stories Of old men
being hung up BY their thumbs with
slow fires under their feet. and chill
dren having their hands cut off, and
being brutally and quite need
lessly separated from their babes
aren't these classics? SO, Of course,
he German soldiers, who are the same
sort Of people whom you meet by the
hundreds. your German-American Eel
.ow citizens-of course they have com
these classic atrocities. The
papers say 50. II you want further
proof, there Is the affidavit of FIVE EN-
Inent American newspaper men, that
no such atrocities could be verified by
them on the actual scenes There is
the testimony Of hundreds OF return
Ing Americans, Mrs. Benjamin Har-
rison, college professors and presi
dents, and such like. to the restraint
and company Of the German army.
There are the specific refutations OF
stories which have appeared
even our anti-German papers.
There are the repeated and official
German d~eniala. There are inherent
and common-sense, IL
hey count. There are the records OF
he different races-the records of
Walloons and French, English and
Russians, to put against the records
,f Germans. There are ven the warn
Ings OF Englishmen like Lord Roberts,
Lord Gladstone, Lord Selbourne and
Jerome X. Jerome. that German atroc-
ty tales are probably false and ictt
.ious.
@. The Germans use dum-dum buL
cts and the Allies do NOT, isn't that
Il?
A. To be sure. The reports Of the
allies speak Of the exceptionally clean,
small holes made by German bullets,
md therefore charge that they are
expansive missiles. The Germans, on
he other hand. have nj proofs except
The capture Of large quantities Of
from the very persons and
Of the Allied troops, and the
light OF such wounds aB an American
lewspaper.man has described IS be-
ng made by hunting bullets, such as
would be used against savage beasts.
q. 1t is barbarous for the Germans
o gtrew mines In the open sea, Is 1t
rot?
A. oh. very. OF course. 1t counts
that the Germans officially
leny that they have done any such
hing. The English fishing fleet sailed
III over the North Sea for weeks
striking a mine, 50 they must
AVE been there. On the other hand,
he story that German warships had
'aptured fifteen fishing vessels Is OBJ
untrue; the mines must have
isen up out OF the 9 and towed
hose fishing boats To Germany. or
course, II those two English cruisers.
which first were aunk, had beer sunk
submarines or torpedoes, England
not whimper and squeal to the
about German barbarities; 50,
her fishing fleet 10 captured by
var ships, her cruisers must be blown
Ip By minesI When German naval
'ict0riea became too frequent. how
yer, the English had to abandon the
'~retence, and admit that three oruls-