New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-14
WHAT is GERMANY'S OBJECTp
She Must Have Calculated Conse
quences Of Lusitania s Sinking.
o the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: May be pardoned in adding one
more letter TO the long list with regard to
the sinking Of the Lusitania?
In SO far as the moral issue involved is
concerned and Germany's responsibility to
humanity, the subject has been amply and
ably treated both by The Tribune and all
ether Anglo-Saxon papers in this country,
and there is only one judgment any right
minded individual could arrive at, even
those who have tried to preserve their neu-
trality at the risk of their sanity. there
fore will not take time to discuss this mat
ter, bat would like to ask one question:
What is Germany's object?
With the we'll known German thorough
ness and exacttude in detail. which has
been exempliied beyond anything hereto
fore known in their military operations, they
must have weighed the consequences OF their
act from every standpoint in advance and
fully realized that the sinking Of the Lusl-
tania. with the certainty of the destruction
Of the lives of many American citizens, could
not be atoned for by apologies or eXpIana-
tons, much less by pecunary remuneration;
also that if there should be breaking OIL
Of the diplomatic relationship between the
countries it would in the end most likely
mean war.
With this in mind, the question of whether
Germany deliberately wishes to force the
United States to join the Allies is natural
one, and, assuming this is her INTENTION
what does she expect to gain by such a
move?
Does she think that if this country is put
on a war footing the supplies OF ammuni-
ton and other materials to the countries
now at war will cease?
Or does Germany realize that IN the pres
emf struggle she is doomed to defeat, ana
vet. with this forehand knowledge, for rea-
sons best known to the government at nome,
does not dare TO sue for peace while her
armies are occupying practically all OF Bel
GUM and Northern France, and are holding
the Russians at bay on the eastern frontier
And such being the case, does she believe
that if she should, through measures which
meet the popular support, bring IN the
United States, and with her virtually the
entire world, she would then have more
chance to ask for an honorable peace with
the approval of the majority Of her people,
on the ground that she could not fight against
impossible odds?
AS to the first Of these possibilities. Ger
many underestimates the capacity of the
United States. just as she underestimate the
disposition of the English people to fight
because of the violation of Belgium's neu-
trality. While il is true that we are shipping
tremendous supplies of war to the allied
governments, the mammoth resources Of this
country are as yet hardly touched Those
supplies are now being made by q few COM
panies, which are doing so for purely COM
mercial reasons. What then, would be the
capacity TO produce war materials of all
kinds, from shrapnel shells to battleships,
when such plants were under the orders and
acquisitions of the American government?
Any one who studies the commercial con-
ditions Of this country at present must be
amazed at Germany's valuation, if, indeed,
the stopping of war exports is her object,
and equally does she misunderstood the tenn
per and spirit of the American people if she
assumes for a minute that they will not
back their government to the fullest extent
under such circumstances
With regard to the method Of ending the
war, it might be that, having forced the
United States to fight, the suing for an hon
orabe peace will not be as easy a matter
as she has imagined. for if. as the old saying
goes, It takes two to make a quarrel, it is
very much more true that it takes two to
make a peace.
Every American wants peace so long as he
can have il with honor. and he trusts that
the wisdom of the President may be able TO
insure II under such conditions but 1t may as
we'll be realized that the country is not
afraid OF a righteous war, and that with
Germany will rest the issue
FRANK DESMOND SPRAGuE.
New York, May II. 1915.