New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-07
'LUSITANIA RUSE
STIRS GERMANS
English Badly Scared, Is
Comment Here on
Flag Incident.
SERIOUS MIX-UP
FEARED BY MANY
Teutonic.American Citizens Say
United States Is in Danger OF
Becoming Involved.

The news that Captain Dow OF the
Lusitania sailed from Queenstown 10
Liverpool yesterday flying the Amer
can flag was received with astonish-
rent by Germans here and treated with
caustic comments.
IT. is the best proof how scared Eng
land must be Of the wonderful Ter
man submarines" said Bernhard Rid
der. one Of the editors Of the New
Yorker Stats Zeitung.' "Ot course
the hosting of the American flag does
not place the vessel under American
protection.
ENGLAND does not recognize the le-
climate transfer of German vessels
TO American registry, as evidenced by
her announcement that she Will seiIe
the Dacia. Yet she does rot hesitate
10 attempt to disclaim the British reg
istrv Of her ships and place them un,
der the assumed protection OF neutrai
flags. -, .L..
Enpland's subterfuge under neutral
Gags il merely an illegal bluff in viola
ton of all international laws. II any
thing should happen TO the Lusitania
nj the hands of German submarines
or mines the United States govern.
ment certainly has no recourse, and
would be Inundated at the insult cast
upon the Stars and Stripes by the
British. 1t is the plain duty OF this
government TO make emphatic repre-
Sensations TO the British government
with a view of compelling Great Brit,
ain not to hide her weakness ana
fright behind the unauthorized use OF
the American flag
George Sylvester Viereck was even
more emphatic in his denunciation OF
the misuse" Of the American nag. =.
Several weeks ago a number oil
Germans in this country were accused
of having tried to reach their father,
land under the protection OF alleged
fraudulently obtained American pass,
norts." he said. at can be understood
whv patriotic Germans should De
forced to 60 TO such extremes in their
desperate efforts to join the colors OF
their native land. But why the BRIT
ISL. boosting of their supremacy OF the
seas and haunting the German rats,
with their uneXcelled navy should
stoop to the. in a measure, traudu-
lent use Of the American flag IN order
TO protect their ships in their home
waters is significant occurrence
which ought to give abundant food Tor
thought.
"As an American 7 dread to think
Of the grave complications which might
arise from the misuse Of our flag by
the British. Germany. with her small
fleet and her limited resources as
comnared TO those of Great Britain
would never dare TO stoop to such an
imposition upon the rights OF a neu,
trail nation. 1t ought to be OF vital
interest to this government to protect
the honor and integrity Of its flag and
10 guard against being involved in a
dispute with the belligerents, which Is
evidently England's object
A German naval commander. ma
rooned in this city, regarded Englands
action as the outgrowth of an hysterlcal
wave OF fright sweeping through the
British Isles since German submarines
we're sighted and did damage to Brit
ish vessels in the Irish Sea.
"Such a fragrant violation OF the
rights Of nations is unprecedented IN
modern warfare and reflects IN the
worst possible light upon the INTEGRITY
and the nationalism of the British
government. Germany's announcement
that she will blockade the British
Channel and regard British and Irish
waters a war zone after February 10
NAV now be better understood in this
country in view of Britain's unscrupu-
lous disregard of the rights of neutral,
and the misuse of neutral flags.
at is interesting and highly impor-
tant 10 observe what action this gov
eminent will take in the matter;
nations flag is a peoples sacred herr,
tage and ought to be protected and
from all slurs and insults such as the
British are now heaplng upon the
American flag"