New Britain herald., 1915-07-13
U. S. SHOULD Lead
NEU7RALS' PROTEST
Yale Professor Attacks Policy Of
Germany

the idea that it is time for the people
and government of this country to
place themselves in the front of the
neutral nations for an efficient, and
If need be enforced, protest against
the German attitude and actions in
this war, Prof. George T. Laid, of
Yale, in commenting upon the German
reply to the United States note ex-
presses the idea that the contents of
it should not surprise anyone who has
carefully watched the policy of the
German government in the initiation
and conduct Of the war, and proceeds
to score the policy and it's conse
quences and to point out his idea of
the German plan. which is back OF
the whole.
The German note need surprise no
ONE Professor Laid says who has
watched carefully the policy of the
German governments in. the initiation
and conduct of this war. Indeed, the
note is SO thoroughly consistent with
the past that one familiar with this
past might more reasonably be SUR
prised at the 'amazement' which 1t is
said to have occasioned at Washing
ton than at the character of, the note
itself. Passing by its self-laudatory
Introduction, its substantial contents
may be conveniently divided into two
parts. In the first of these, II aims
to lay upon others-in this case upon
Great Britain-the responsibility for
its own departures from International,
not to say humane usage; while in the
second part it avows its intention to
continue the same policy. in spite of
all considerations, to the attainment
of its own ends. From the very first,
German has ruthlessly transgressed
every principle of international law,
whether as enacted by The Hague
conventions of in the name of human
ity by general consent. 1t began by
violating the neutrality of Belgium, q
neutrality which was not assumed by
that state for its own advantage, but
was constituted by the joint action
of the allied nations, of whom Ger
many was one Of the chief.
Destroyed villages and Towns.
In its conduct of the war, not only
in Belgium, but also in France, Pol
and and South Africa, Germany has
paid no attention whatever to any os
the provisions designed to mitigate
the horrors of war. 1t has frequently
the article which espec-
tally forbids to kill or mutilate an
enemy who has surrendered by dis
erection. 1t has frequently and need
lessly destroyed the property Of the
enemy, leaving all of Belgium and a
part of France so desolated that the
peasants had not even the tools by
- o1. - &c 1,os 10
has needlessly destroyed whole VIII
ages and towns, looted the banks and |
private houses, as well, as the public |
Offices. 1t has burned dwellings, |
villages and towns that
were undefended and has shot and !
hundreds of non-combat- 1
ants, not only men but also women |
and children. Many times 1t has |
taken no time to spare buildings de- |
voted TO art, religion, science and |
charity. 1t has revived the abomin- |
able practice of holding non-comb bat
ants as hostages. Why then should |
Germany be expected to surrender the |
practice which, at the present time, |
Il considers its most efficient way of /
on the war against France
and Great Britain?
1T would, In my Judgment" con-
tinued Professor Ladd, "be a great |
mistake to put all this on a par with |
any breaches of International law,
real or fancied, of which the Allies
can justly be accused. At any rate
the reference in the German note |
to such breaches, cannot be held to /
excuse them in any respect from the
much worse breaches. not only OF I
International law, but also of tile +
claim of humanity of which they |
nave themselves been guilty. 1t is
lutte time, in my judgment, for the
American people to understand and |
BUR government to take account OF |
he policy Of which this war In It's
BEGINNING and in It's conduct, Is the
latural ana almost necessary result.