New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-31
Everything German, Even
Names, Taboo in Rome
Mrs Boissevain Calls Bitterness Dscouragng and
Defends Gas Bombs and the Lusania Sinking
Hopes to Prove Germany Justified
Bv INEZ MILHOLLAND BOISSEVAlN
(CopyJiqht, 1915, By The New York fr1ouneD

IL seems to me so justifable, granted
the abomination of war, that discus
sion is futile. Let neutrals stay away
from belligeront territory, unless al
their own risks. and let war be ex-
tended TO all the nation, non-comb t
ants included. So we shall have done
with il. Otherwise we might choose
three men from either side and let
them settle il between them. The
game of the nation at war is TO ami
hilate the enemy. And the enemy con
sists OF those at home az well as
those under arms. To sink a shipload
Of on-combatants is no worse than 70
attempt to starve a nation women ana
children included-into submission.
That. of course, is not the general
sentiment here. but it is nevertheless
true for all that
Here everything German is taboo.
People must change names that are
German, even if they themselves are
not know of a family of Swiss con
fectioners who did so, and even so lie
was SO intolerable that they were
obliged to move back 10 Switzerland.
Germans Are Viewed as Spies.
The young lady who types my let
tiers for me, German by EXTRACTION
who has lived in Italy for the .ast
five years, is obliged to call herseli
madame. When her card Was brought
to me. with its German name, my
friends. the bellboy, the concierge:
everybody, looked at me with eyes OIL
suspicion. ..;a
A Neapolitan lady, who lives in this
hotel, and who has been Tor years d
dominant figure in Roman society the
Countess NJ, is obliged TO Keep TO her
rooms except at meal times because
the atmosphere for her IS so uncom-
Portable. She once entertained the
Kaiser. and before the war she ex-
pressed herself as opposed to war WIN
Germany. She has been the sublect OF
newspaper .ampoons and suspicious
comment EVER since, though she mas
declared that her sympathies are pro
foundry with her country, now tnat
that country is engaged in warfare.
For that matter, most OF the arls-
tocracy here were opposed TO war. NOW
they say: r..
"Since we are at war, the time Tor
discussion is over. We must do our
duty" And the sons have volunteered
in overwhelming numbers. This is the
sentiment of a good many OF those
who are frankly opposed to war on
principle.
There appeared in a recent Italian
daily a comment on an incident mat
| think is significant Of the present
state of national feeling. A proprietor
of a boarding house had been obliged
to notify his guests that war discus
sion could not take place, because the
peace of the household was disturbed
and other guests complained. The
paper urged that such a household
where discussion pro and con were pos
sible should be closed.
This extract from a German news
paper is interesting by way Of con-
trast chastity but literally translated,
about June /, from recent leading
Dresden newspaper:
"The Military Headquarters an
nounces:
Italy has separated herself from
her allies and gone over to our enemies.
As justified as is our dislike of such
2 breach of good faith. yet it is never
theless desirable that all outbreaks
against Italians living in our country
be avoided. War must be conducted
upon battlefelds, and not in coffee
! houses and restaurants, as is at pres
! ent the case IN England, where II is
even carried on in the streets. When
nation fights against nation. yet, at
( least according to German sentiments,
the individual is to be as much re-
| spected as private property.
"'Any other attitude on the part of
the people only creates temporary an
noyances for the foreigner. while the
prestige of Germany's culture and
mentality is thereby permanently in
! jured. On this account, therefore, the
national decision is absolutely 20 pro-
/ tect foreigners, as long as they are
/ harmless. against all hasty actions and
unwarranted assaults. and il is espe-
/ cially expected that the people of Ber-
! lin, who heretofore have been an ex-
ample to the whole German nation
/ should continue to prevent the mo-
testing Of the stranger within our
gates -"