New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-14
He Still Favors Germany.
.e Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: To-day. when all Americans should
await the action of President Wilson in re-
gard TO the sinking of the Lusitania, bitter
letters against Germany appear IN your
issue. One can but regret that impetuosity
has been responsible for them.
Roland C. Usher, who has delivered him
self Of a vast amount Of rabidly anti-German
writing IN recent years, was quoted yester-
day as saying that the sinking Of the Lusi-
tania BY n German submarine was not an
act Of war against the United States. Con
sidering that he would be only too glad to
say that it constitutes such an act, one may
indeed consider his words authoritative
Yet young humorist suggests in letter TO
YOU this morning that "any German who ut
,ers words 20 that effect on the street or in
rrint should be arrested as a traitor" The
commercial instinct in this writer seems 10
have been overcome by frenzied feeling he
doubtless calls it patriotism! These words
might have brought him a cent each from
Puck" or more surely from Life" which
has defeated the German and Austrian armies
with the pen during the last six months quite
as often as has "The Evening Telegram"
President Wilson cannot declare war on
Germany. nor will he. He will view the situa-
ton calmly, with the seriousness which has
characterized all his actions, good or other
wise. during his difficult administration.
Yesterdays paper stated in full that the Lu-
sitania carried much arms, guns and ammu-
milton. To-day London's influence has al
ready seen to It that this be contradicted'
- - - l.. 1f-tlo yyrpf b q
the original report be true or not. The
Americans who lost their lives aboard her
had no business there. They were not only
warned by the German officials. They were
advised many Of them, by Americans who
we're informed that she would never make
this voyage to her port. The Cunard Line
assured them-and New York newspapers
backed up the British steamship company S
statement-that the Germans wouldn't sink
her But they knew full we'll that Germany
meant what she said. SO il would seem that
by assuring Americans that the trip was
safe they were trying either to carry arms
20 England, using American neutral non
combatanD passengers as a shield (qulte as
our Stars and Stripes have been used 10
escape danger several times by the English
captains in this war; or were working to
make this tense the feeling between America
and Germany should the Lusitania be sunk
Since the war began I have read regularly
the newspapers Of New York (among them
The Tribune and "The Sun" both Of them
violently against Germany and those Of Lon
don. Berlin and Vienna l read them for the
news, not for opinions. Germany's cause
has been wilfully misrepresented by the
New York papers; she has been insulted edi-
torially and otherwise. and it is lamentable
70 think of what her feelings must be toward
the United States. And il is because she has
fought, as have none Of the other nations
involved in the war, with efficiency, because
her armies have won and because she has
preserved the integrity Of her national exist
ence by driving her enemies from off aer soil
as has Austria, too within the las week
that there IS so much feeling against her.
She cannot be defeated. And | am proud to
be one Of those few Americans who have
looked al and thought Of both sides mot
merely reading the doctorcd reports Of the
London CENSOR, one whose sympathy is for
Germany and Austria in their struggle TO
maintain a civilization in which art is fos-
tered by the humblest peasant as well as
the aristocrat, a civilization which has pro-
duced more important artists and scientists
than any nation in the world.
AN AMERICAN.
New York, May 10, 1915.