Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-05-13
A TERRIBLE CRIME.

sent TO the bottom by herman suoind-
rine. The Lusitania, which was one Of
the largest and costliest vessels ever con-
structed. left New York on the Saturday
previous with a passenger list of ],25l
and crew OF SIC. Of the l,25l passen-
gers 1888 were American citizens, and be-
sides many women, there were l24 chill
dren aboard the ship, OF whom 40 were
babes in arms.
The Lusitania was almost at its jour-
ney's end when German submarine
suddenly appeared, and without warning
OF any sort or giving The doomed voyagers
a chance for their lives, fired torpedo
that struck the ship squarely and tore a
great hole in its side. AS the huge YES
sells reeled and settled in the water from
the shock of the explosion. the murder
Gus crew OF the submarine sent two more
torpedoes crashing into its sides. In a
few moments the ship went to the bot
tom, carrying most OF the passengers and
crew with il, many OF them torn and
mangled by the explosions. A portion
of those aboard were saved in the life
boats that were speedily launched. but
there were not enough boats and RATS to
rescue all, and struggling men, despair
ing women and crying children and babes
were swallowed up by the waves. More
than 200 persons lost their lives, while
between TOO and 800 reached shore or
were picked up by other vessels that
came TO their rescue.
Among the lost were lis American
citizens. OF these the most prominent
were Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, one OF
the richest men in the United States; FL
bert Hubbard, the famous writer, and his
wife; Justus Miles Forman, the author ;
Charles Klein, the playwright; Charles
Frohman, the theatrical manager, and
others not so we'll known.
The whole world is aghaSt at the wick
ed cruelty and savage, murderouS spirit
of the Germans that caused such wanton
destruction OF innocent and harmless
people. The Lusitania was unarmed and
acknowledged TO be -combatant {;
and while its destruction or capture might
under certain circumstances be justified,
the fact that no opportunity was given for
the escape Of its passengers has caused
universal horror and deteStatlon. II IS
known that the hideous crime was de-
iiberate and premeditated, for the Ger
mans had threatened to destroy the vessel,
though no one ever believed that such
wholesale murder was contemplated. In
the history OF the world no similar atrocity
has ever before been committed by ma
ton calling itself civilized.
This wicked and objectionable crime
against humanity and civilization is the
natural result OF The war spirit that has
been fostered as national characteristic
by the Germans for the past forty years.
They have become brutal and savage
people, without regard for human lite or
human rights. From the very beginning
OF the present war one atrocity has sue
ceeded another, and they have been utter
ly regardless OF the rules Of civilized war
fare. In violation Of their pledged faith
and solemn treaty, they invaded Belgium,
country against which they had no
grievances, cruelty numbering the people,
wantonly destroying cities and towns,
cathedrals and monuments, homes and
farms; not satisfied with the awful de-
struction OF their huge guns and death
dealing devices, they have again diSre-
garded the usages OF legitimate warfare
and used poisonous gases and deadly
chemicals to overcome their foes; their
dirigibles have dropped bombs on de-
ienseless towns, and no form OF death or
destruction has been too cruel for them
to employ. They seem 10 have relapSed
into utter savagery. We think that all
the nations of the earth will be justified
in rising against such barbarity and uni
ting to crush it.
Naturally the destruction of the lives OF
so many Americans caused intense feel
ing in the United States and presented to
our government the most serious question
that has yet arisen in connection with the
European war. The people have turned
to the President and shown disposition
TO abide by his decision in regard TO the
matter. Although he has been giving
the subject his exclusive thought and at
tention, he has not yet indicated what his
course will be. There are many who
think that he should take emphatic steps
to express the profound displeasure OF
our government, but he is celebrating
with the utmost care, with full realization
of the importance OF his attitude. The
German government has expressed its
regret to our government at the loss OF
American lives, and on Tuesday issued
note in which if declared that il had no
desire to harm or destroy neutral vessels
and that instructions to this effect had
been given to its war vessels and subma-
rines. If neutral vessels are harmed in
any way through German activities, the
German government agrees TO pay for
all damage done.
This declaration slightly relieves the
tension, but il does not lessen the horror
of the crime in sinking the Lusitania. All
the world has expressed its detestation OF
the awful deed, and the Germans have
alienated many persons who have here
tofore been inclined to syTpathize with
them. The press of the United States is
practically unanimous in its coudemna-
ton, and so universal is the feeling against
the barbarous act that the country would
back I'D the President if he should 90 to
the extreme of taking steps looking to a
e $500 o~,..et