The Washington times., 1915-12-21
The Babies of Germany and the
Babies of the Lusitania.

To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
From your Sunday edition IT appears
that a great organization Is being per-
fected in this country to obtain millions
of quarts OF condensed milk through
popular subscription for transmission
through the malls to the babies OF
Germany, it being stated that they are
starving for want of milk0 This Is
touching appeal, and the sponsors of
the plan say that II IL entirely humani-
tartan. not pro-German nor pro-ally.
But It calls to mind the American
babies who sank IN the sea, murdered
by Germany, when the Lusitania was
torpedoed. 1t calls to mind the school
holiday which was ordered by the par
ents and celebrated by the brothers and
sisters of these German babies because
American babies were floating in the
blue waters Of tho Atlantic.
Is it better that America, in true
Christian spirit, should forgive and for
get? Or is 1t better, and more likely
to work Gods will. II America should
refuse to forgive until the parents of
the German babies punish. instead of
honor, their leaders for numbering our
babies? Certainly II Christianity is
measurable by ''kultur," more ultimate
good may be expected from refusing
this charity than from forgiveness.
DIR. Won Mach Is quoted as saying:
"It would be a terrible commen-
tary on the civilization of the world
to let these babies suffer or perish
for lack OF that which God intended
them to have. Their cries must be
needed . ="
May not Americans ask IL German
civilization needed the cries of Ameri-
can babies when the German torpedo
made them
lack OF the air which God had given
| them?
With poignant grief Dr. Won Mack is
| reported to have said that the world
| children. around whose throats the
| tawny grip of a milk famine Is tight
! ening through no fault or responsibility
! o: theirs"
Is it true that the world Is compelled
| to feel sympathy for the German
| ba bies while the German people were
permitted to rejoice in holiday that the
salt grip OF the sea waters had closed
| the thToats Of American babies2 we
do not recall that DR.. Won Mack was
| able to express such grief at the time
our babies died at German hands.
Again DR.. Won Mack II reported 70
have said that he does not think the
American people will leave to die the
babies of a people who in their distress
gave thought to the safety OF theil
| BIRDS That is a curious appeal 70
|
of their birds, but rejoiced at theIi
murder OF our children. and, therefore
| we should give them charity. 1t II
hard to imagine more cynical cry fol
| aims.
Over the door of every depot of the
proposed organization should be placed
a sign bearing the words: Remember
the babies OF the Lusitania and thinI
| or the babies of Germany" rt
| Then the American people coulC
make their choice and perhaps theu
| thoughts would turn to the starvlul
babies of Belgium, Poland. and Serbia
| where the German invaders do not reec
| them, and to the babies of Armenia
where Germany's Moslem ally torturei
| ba bies to death.
| And the German and Austrian moth
ers may well turn their thoughts L
the men who sped the torpedo toward
| the Lusitania and showered the DapIeI
on the Ancona with shell splinter1
while they sought to reach the boats.
HUMANITARIAN
Washington, December q.