Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-08
NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS
ARE BITTER IN COMMENT
This Declared to BE Time of Gravity
In American History Unmatch-
ed Since Civil War.
MEANS REVIVAL or PIRACY
What Germany Expects to Gain by
Policy, Which Will Leave Nation
Without Friend or Well-Wisher
iii World, Cannot BE Fathomed.
Especial to The rimcs-Dispatchl ]

Especial to The Times Dispatch1
NEW YORK, May S.-The sun this
morning says, cditorially:
1T is proper to keep clearly in mind
the fact that the undersca attack on
the l-usitania is Of less Importance to
us. as an event involving international
relations. than the recent sinking OF
the Falaba-that is, If it shall happily
prove true that all the American pas
, scnScrs who sailed q week ago to-day
on the great Cunard liner escaped with
their lives If, on the contrary. any
American citizen died in consequence
OF the torpcdoing OF the Lusitania. the
| inciden, is in the class with the Falaba.
and technically possesses neithe: more
nor less significance than that anair.
1T is likewise we'll to remember
that. technically and logically. the con-
Germ OF our government with this sem
sational event is almost incomparahly
less than in the case Of the o;ulflght
now matter OF protest ana diplomatic
adjustment. The Lusiiania was a
British ship, sailing under the Brit
ish flag. and carrying. among her other
passengers. British reservists on their
way to the seat Of war.
ne foregoing: com mpariSon VIII in
dicatc that there is no further reason
for national excitement: no occasion for
pressure upon the administration for
action more emphatic than that which
has already heen undertaken i'm the
cases of the Frye. the Falaha and the
Gulhight."
The Herald this morning SAYS. edi
torally:
The civilized world stands appalled,
AT the torpcdoing of tho Lusitania, with
the terrible loss OF life-noncombatan.<
many of them citizens OF neutral coun-
tries.
I'm deciding the degree OF guilt in
murder. the first degree is the verdict.
if motive. malice and reconciliation are
proved. In this case Germany furnished
the proof in advance of the crime If
ever wholesale murder was pre-
mcditatcd, this slaughter on the high
seas was one American life lost
makes another case against Germany
similar 10 that of the Gulfleht. But
undoubtedly hundreds of Americans
have been sent swirlinc to eternity by
the German pirates.
"Hcnceforth is international anarchy
to he the factor in warfare?
Henceforth is ph acy OF the high seas
to hc recognized and go unpunishcd?
Henceforth is the wanton murder of
neutral and noncombatant passengers
to he treated as reGrettahle incidents
and go at that?
1t is for the neutral countries and
abovs all for the United States to an
swcr these questions. 1t is "A time OF
gravity in American history unmatched
81 -i,.;I ooll 1,
premeditated outrage on colossal scale
will cause such a binding whitclight
of Indignation throughout the neutral
portion of the world. unhappily grow
ing smaller and smaller. that there can
not conceivably be in Washington any
thought of turning back from the note
to Germany sent February 10"
The World says: How many Amer
lean lives have been snuhch out i'm the
loss Of the Lusitania we do not vet
know. Rut II is no fault Of the German
government that anybody escaped from
either ship. IT is no fault Of the Ger
man government that every American
on board the Lusitania is not living AT
the bottom OF the sea. The whole Ger
man submarine policy i'm its campaign
not against British ships Of war, but
against merchantmen on the high seas
is revival of piracy-piracy organized,
systematized and nationalized. 1t is
piracy against neutrals as well as
against enemies.
Modern history affords no other
sucn example of great nation run
ming amuck and calling it military no
cessity.
What Germany expects to gain by
her policy is something we cannot
guess. What advantage will 1t be to
CONTINUED on Second PagI.)