Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-12

From n German Who GIories in IL,
OMAHA. May Ito the Editor OF The
Bee: No doubt the sinking Of the Lusi-
tania by German submarines will bring
forth another outburst OF indignant pro-
tests on the part of neutral Americans.
How could the Germans dare to have
the audacity 70 torpedo a British weasel
In the declared war zone? And this, too,
with several hundred Americans on
board, In honor TO whom the German
torpedoes most certainly should have
respected the big liner. with its cargo of
ammunition and war supplies destined
for the use OF the allies
1t Is without doubt regrettable that so
many lives were lost, but every person
on the Lusitania was fully forcwarned
and took all the responsibility in his
own hands. What IL the standpolnts of
the United States in regard to the lives
OF all the German young men who are
Killed by American ammunition supplied
to the allies? The United States saws.
1T Is sad, but war Is war. II can't be
helped. Our neutrality obliges us to
furnish England with all the war ma
terlal II may desire. Loss of life caused
thereby cannot be helped" Perhaps Ger
many has right to the same view. Ger.
many gave full warning repeatedly
against taking passage on British and
French boats Was IT not in ITS right
in destroying vessel loaded with war
supplies to be used against It. even
though a hundred or so ''neutraIs' were
on board? War 10 war and 1T can't
be helped" IL anyone came to grief
through his own fault. Perhaps "neu-
trails" will now lay more weight upon
German statements. and not regard such
declarations as idle ehaff and humbug
The charge that the Lusitania was tor
pedoed without warning is ludlcrous
when We remember how Germany de-
fined the war zone months ago. ana has
continually since warned Americans from
travelling on English or French boats.
Germanys paper blockade" was ridi-
culed at first and now that they enforce
II another 'atrocious act lie placed to the
discredit of the ''barbarians."
Gentle minded persons are also seek
ing to enlist our sympathies by the
familiar cry OF unsentlemanly conduct
towards the women and children II
these women and children willingly and
deliberately put themselves in such a
preearious position let them blame only
themselves for their misfortune Or let
them put the blame where II rightly
rests. upon England. For England to
permit steamers carrying contraband OF
war TO transport passengers was a
criminal act of the first degree. Why did
not some OF Great Britain's magnificent
navy come forth from their hiding
places and protect the I.usitsnia and its
valuable cargo? Probably they relied on
the Stars ana stripes to do this again.
II Is really too bad Germany should
not have the right TO torpedo a vessel
carrying $4,000 worth OF cartridges and
ammunition, TO be used against her, and
found In the declared war zone. simply
because handful OF 'neutrals," after
being forewarned, chose 10 take the risk,
and suffered thereby.
When several Americans were killed in
Mexico recently, Secretary of State
Bryan declared There is nothing to be
done. These people knew that war
existed In Mexico and they therefore had
no business there in suen times These
words exactly tit the Lusitania situa,-
ton. Its passengers knew that war
existed between Germany and England,
they were warned not to travel on Brit
ish boats; whatever happened was their
own fault War is war; II II sad but
there Is nothing 20 be done.
DIR. H. GERHARD.