Evening star., 1915-04-27
DR.. Dernburg Points to Use OF
Asphyxiating Gas Shells
by French.
SAYS NEWSPAPERS HERE
FAILED TO PROTEST THEN
Declares Teutons Are Condemned
Now for Same Thing Allies
Did Last Year.

NEW YORK, April 27.-Dr. Bern
hard Dernburg. former colonial secre-
tary of the German empire, issued a
statement today relating to the use of
asphyxiating gases by the Germans in
trench warfare.
DR. Dernburg asserted that whom
there was published last November
reports of a French invention for the
purpose of asphyxiating enemies by
nauseating gases, the ending of the
war in favor of the allies was pre-
dicted with a great deal of ssttsfac-
ton" by the American press.
But as soon as the Germans used
the same kind of weapon In the battle
around Ypres the denunciation of Ger
many for following the practice OF her
adversaries has been rampant and the
most invective sort of epithets has
been employed"
This was cited as an illustration of
the reasons why German sympathiZers
in America consider the American press
unfair and unneutral
DIR. Dernburg's Statement.
part:
Most of the American papers have
always upheld that there was a rea-
son for such criticism, that the news
coming from the other side was being
fully published and fairly commented
on, and that on the contrary those were
taking an unneutral view of the posi-
tion who complained of the one sided
ness of the American press comment
That this criticism of the American
press seems to be not at all unjustf-
fed. the following, 1 think. would con-
clusively prove:
Early in November Of last year long
reports were published of an astound-
ing French invention for the purpose
gases contained in the shells. All de-
tails were given and a great deal was
made of the probable effects on the
foe. and the ending of the war in favor
of the allies. in consequence of this in
yention. was predicted with a great
deal of satisfaction This invention
has been used by the French. as ap-
pears from the German official reports.
which mention the employment of such
shells great number of times in the
German official reports of April 9, IA,
is and 81. All this is quoted from the
leading articles in the United States.
No Exception Taken.
NO exception has been taken to that
use in America No inquiry has been
addressed to the French correspond
ents of the papers. whether the news
was true or not. No denial of these
charges however often repeated, has
been made by the allies. But as soon
as the Germans used the same kind of
weapon in the battle around Ypres
the denunciation of Germany for fol-
lowing the practice of her adversaries
has been rampant, and the most invec-
tive sort of epithets have been en-
ployed. The rights of nations have
been violated and The Hague confer
ence was called into the field again to
prove the utter disregard of all civil
lied warfare by my country.
This is exactly what Germany COM
plains of, that the press of this coun-
try very often measures with two
standards: that what is sauce for the
goose is not sauce for the gander; that
If the allies do one thing it is covered
with mantle of charity, excused and
smoothed over, and if Germany after
ward does the very same thing she is
held up for 1t by the American public
as the real infractor of established law
and decent customs.
Why Germany Protests.
This is why Germany protests and
why they do not believe in the impair
tiality of public opinion in this coun-
try, and why they do not take kindly
to the attitude of the United States to
play mediating role in the present
world struggle. Nobody is ready to
accept as an umpire person or ma
tion which he considers as biased and
one-sided, and this applies to base ball
as well as to the making of peace"