New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-15
German Veterans for Bryan.

/ To the Editor Of The Tribune.
/ Sir: As the president of the German Vet
erans' Association, New York, | consider II
my duty TO give expression to the opinions
of at least 100000 loyal American citizens
who have served in the German army.
/ | am convinced that the following state
ment is justified by actual facts, and that
every American citizen who has served in the
German army is opposed 10 the policy fol-
lowed by President Wilson. These American
citizens consider war with Germany abso-
lutely out of the question, and are firmly
convinced that President Wilson commits a
grave error when he assumes that the
American people are in favor of energetic
measures against Germany. The American
press and the American politicians who at
tempt to infame the people against Germany
do not represent public opinion, but are falsi-
flying it. The overwhelming majority of the
American people does not believe that the
United States has the right to dictate to Ger
many how she should carry on war. Ameri-
cans travelling to England on British ships
carrying arms and ammunition assume volun-
tarily all the risks 10 which English citizens
are subject, and give up the right TO pro-
lection by their own government The prop
osition that Germany must stop making war
whenever a few American citizens feel like
walking across a battlefield is prepOsterous.
/. is the duty of the American government TO
warn its citizens against such action, but
not to encourage them to expose thems lives
TO needless risk.
We consider il wrong and unjust to dictate
20 a people that is fighting for its existence
against one-half of the whole world to stop
using all the means of defence at its disposal,
especially as the submarine war has only
been begun in order to overcome British
measures that are clearly violations Of inter
national law Germany has, before she be-
gan her submarine war and repeatedly since
then, offered TO abandon these weapons as
500. as England announces her willingness
10 stop her attempts TO starve Germany and
10 prevent peaceable trade between neutral
countries. The measures by means of which
England interferes with the trade between
the United States and neutral European coun-
tries cause infinitely more damage than the
German submarines, and our government
should protest against them before doing
anything else.
We are in full accord with the actions Of
former Secretary of State William Jennings
Bryan in each and every respect. We believe
that ne does not only understand and inter-
pref the views of the American people better
than President Wilson, but that he takes
much better care of vital American interests
and knows how to protect them. For these
reasons it is my firm and unshakable con-
victon that the Honorable William Jennings
Bryan deserves our full support in his pres
ent attitude and that this will be accorded
him by all American citizens whose minds
have not been poisoned by the British cam
paign Of calumny. We do not want war; we
do not want policy that must lead to differ
cnces with European countries.
While yielding to nobody not even to Pres
ident Wilson, in honest and earnest desire
OF fulfilling our duties Of citizenship, We want
peace, and for this reason we stand solidly
behind the Honorable William Jennings Bryan
and his wise, humane and just policy Of
peace. CHRISTOPH REBHAN.
New York, June II, 1915.