Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-01


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lions if he forgets that this opinion is
nourished on only a selection of the
whole body of the data concerning the
war, and has not at its disposal like
American opinion. the information
that comes from all quarters. Take,
for instance. the question of atroci-
ties. One gatherS from some American
papers that some Americans are in
clined to blame English people for
making TOO much OF the atrocities
charged against the Germans. The ex-
plantations is that-except in such IN
popular organs as the Labor Leader.
the independent Labor Party's paper
no mention has been made of the
fact that similar accusations have
been brought against the behavior OF
the Russian troops in East Prussia.
Nothing was printed here about any
such charges against Belgians. until
there could be quoted clipping from
Vorwarts as evidence that some OF
them were unfounded But for the
American papers. one would have no
suspicion that any English soldier on
the field had been guilty of the least
irregularity. In England there is gen.
eraI surprise that America has not
been moved to diplomatic interven-
ton. at least. by the stories of German
atrocities in Belgium. This surprise
is largely due TO ignorance of the fact
that America is aware of allegations
on the other side.
Japanese Assistance.
Then there is the question OF
Japan. A Toxic dispatch in the Even
ing Post of September II related that
Japans participation in the war or
iginated with a note from the British
government asking what she could do
20 safeguard British shipping in the
far east. That fact has not been pub
Hshed in any paper. when I say
any" l do not, OF course profess 20
have read through every newspaper
published in the country But read
regularly six lending English daiiies,
and occasionally look at several 9TH
ers, so that ] am not likely to miss any
important item.) The general beliet
in England is that Japan's interven-
ton was quite spontaneous. The
protest of the Chinese foreign ofic
TO the Japanese and British Legations
at Picking against the violation OF Chi
mas neutrality involved in the land
ing at Lung-kow Evening Point. Sept.
- also was withheld from the Brit
ish public. ONLY again from an AS
scciate6 Press dispatch in American
papers could an Englisnman learn
that there was any reinonstrance in
the Japanese diet against the limi-
tation by England of Japan's area OF
operations in the war.
These remarkable silences are due,
presumably, TO the vigilance of the
press censor. 1t is more likely that
the newspapers themselves are TO
blame for a piece OF stupid blunder-
ing in connection with President VII
sons reply 10 the Kaiser's telegram.
That reply was published in the
American papers OF September IT. 1t
appeared in the English papers of Oc-
tober 9. in the g rm of a telegram
from Amsterdam, giving a translation
of 1t as it had been published in the
Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung.
Presidents Words GarbeId.
In the course of these migrations
the PRESIDENTS words had undergone
some wonderful changes. One passage
appeared thus: Il pray to God that
this war may soon be ended. day
of settlement will come when / am
convinced the nations of Europe will /
unite to end Their differences. Who
ever has been in the wrong will learn
the sequel, and the responsibility viii
fall on the guilty. The nations OF the
whole world are unanimous in think
ine that the final settlement must IL
volve complete agreement" instead
of such nonsense as this, what the
president had really written was,
Presently, pray God. very soon, the
war will Re over. The day Of account
ing will then come. when, | take IL
for granted. the nations of Europe
will assemble to determine settle
ment Where wrongs have been com
mitted their consequences and the
relative responsibility involved will
be assessed. The nations of the world
have fortunately by agreement made
a plan for such a reckoning and set
tlement. What such plan cannot
compass the opinion of mankind, the
final arbiter OF all such matters, Will
supply Luckily "a London journalist
who specializes in American affalrs
had keptsa clipping from an American
paper of the presidents actual reply !
He called attention to the misrepre-
senfation and il WAS corrected 9th
wise this absurd travesty OF Woodrow
Wilson's attitude still would be mis-