The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-02-02
PUBLIC OPINION

CTo the Editor OF the F'armer.)
Sir:-The Spanish Academia de
San Fernando has refused the request
of the French. Academy of Science
to file a, complaint against the bonn
bardment of the Cathedral at
Rheims. The refusal is. based on
the fact that in 1903 the French not
only destroyed the Cathedral of Gero-
ma, but sdesecrated the grave of st.
Narcissus and robbed it of its insignia
were also wantonly destroyed without
even the excuse of military. expe-
diency.
The German fbombardment of Bel
gian cathedrals and other stately gedi-
fees is less talked Of now, because the
worlds knowledge of the motives for
these acts have frustrated the Paris
and London misrepresentation
When, as in Belgium, cathedral and
church spires were used to direct the
fire of the enemy when they obstruct-
ed the line of battle, or took their
chances with other structures during
+ a general bonbardment, the accusa.-
ton made against Germany, of wan
ton and unnecessary destruction, was
a malicious 1ibed which they, who
uttered it, reluctantly disclaim, 50 en-
gagged are they with the propaganda
of defamation.
The stories of German atrocities,
in the same malicious dye, when, in
a, bayonet charge between Germans
and Allies, the latter aided by Kaff1r
and Indian savages imported by Eng
land to fight her battles, a French
or English soldier has an ear clipped
off or an eye gouged out, the incident
is cabled as a German atroeity. When
a, town is bombarded according to the
laws of war land innocent children are
accidentally injured. it is a. German
| atrocity. The world is tired of such
futile efforts to deceive. But truth
will prevail.
Louvain would not be wrecked had
it's citizens not mo1ested the besieg-
| ers, as agreed. Why wasn't Brussels
| destroyed? The inhabitants kept
| their word. In fact, the question
now is, was Albert justified in oppos-
! ing the Germans at the outset? He
| should have known that England
would not help him. She attempted
| to help him,-but it was after his
country was ruined!!
| We should not underestimate the
value of upholding the honor of a ma
! ton nor should we go so far as to
| let women and children suffer, the
men be killed in battle, and all the
| fruit of years of hard labor be de-
stroyed, just for the sage of nation
al honor. which might after all have
4 been better preserved if Belgium had
GUM today is a devastated country
with a very gloomy outlook. Some
| thing extraordinary will have to. be
shown to justify AIbert's hasty actions
to throw once fourishing Belgium in
such state of untold misery.
But, let we forget! England of
| all. nations, should not mention bar
barity. She is not in a position to
accuse any nation, least of all chivl-
rous Germny, of atrocities. Take
| her conduct towards one country
less than half her size,-Tre1and. The
| history of Ireland is one continual
! act of spoliation, tyranny and rob-
berry for seven centuries. After the
battle of KinsaIes that polished Eng
| 1ish gentleman Sir Walter Raleigh
ordere eight hundred prisoners of wal
to be butchered and flung into the sea,
| Why sicen the heart with the deeds
| of Cromwell? His massacres Al
Drogheda and Waterford, at Wexford
| and other parts of Ireland, disclose
| a saturnila of barbarity and savagery