New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-13
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Among the best editorials ever read
re "Bastile Day" and "Liege 1914-19l5," but
| altogether disagree with the latter. While
you in the former gave France its due credit,
you in the latter disregard all the Teutonic
allies accomplished, and you even go so far
as to belittle their successes. This | find
unfair.
Germany and Austria-Hungary are fight
ing the greatest and most wonderful battle
in the annals of history; they have battled
against seemingly overwhelming odds and
succeeded in carrying the war into their
enemies territory and withstood all attempts
to invade their own. Success has crowned
their arms admit not to the extent they
expected it. Still, that does not say that
they failed or their plans were altogether
| frustrated Il is an undeniabe fact that Ger
many has occupied one-sixth of France; that
region includes the mining and manufacturing
districts of France; that territory consti-
tutes Frances most profitable district Al
though Germany's direct objective, /. e.
Paris. was not taken, she still has, by the
conquering of the Champagne, a reward that
was well worth the stake. The Germans are in
possession of practically the whore of ;elgium,
which was known as the most prosperous Of
the minor countries. Its countless factories,
coupled with great wealth, make a sufficient
compensation for Germany's sacrifices And
/ IN the east the taking of over half of Poland,
Russia's main manufacturing district, and
with it Warsaw, balances the losses sustained
by the Russian invasion of Galicia AS the
losses in men about balance the world to-
day witnesses the triumph of the Teutonic
alliance.
/ My claim, that the Teutons were success
full does not correspond with the esteemed
Tribune, which claims a complete Teuton
failure. 1t evidently gives no credit what
soeyer to the Teuton occupation of vast and
important regions, to the destruction of many
powerful forts and the capture Of almost
two million prisoners, but. on the other hand,
attributes Importance 70 small and unimpor-
tant gains of Germany's foes. The storming
of q mile of trenches by the French is called
another step toward the Allied victory, while
the German occupation Of great stretch Of
land is of no significance. The taking Of
victory Of vast strategic importance, while a
Teuton victory which results in the capture
of many thousand prisoners is called "a mere
incident, with no further bearing on the final
outcome" The failure of the American
press to give Germany its due credit, coupled
with the Misrepresentation of internal condi
lions in Germany and Austria Hungary
clearly shows the bias of the press. This bias
is permissible as long as it stays within GER
tain bounds, but when it with false reports
mot necessarily invented by the papers,, or
with nefarious editorials, poisons the peo-
Pies mind and incites public opinion against
Germany, and, what is still worse, creates an
unnecessary revolutionary spirit against
them in those circles that support the Ger
manic cause. the press thereby becomes guilty
OF crime Of the worst type, for it sows the
|aespicable seeds from which grow hatred,
dissatisfaction and discomfort" The present
bias does not show the much commended
"fair play; on the contrary, il is distinctly
unfair play" | do not say boost Germany,
but | do say that in consideration Of what Ger
many did we should give them the same con-
sideration as the Allies. We must be neutral
not only as far as the government is con-
cerned, but also with our press, for we must
remember that the Teutonic alliance is fight
ing world of nations, and fighting well.
That Belgian neutrality was violated
/ is undoubted. But We must consider the
circumstances Germany claims that Bel
GUM had secret treaties with Britain and
France, whereby the two latter were to be
permitted to send their troops through Bel
GUM for an attack on Germany. In NY
| opinion Germany would have done better