Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-03-30
A WARNING BY TIE PRESIDENT
NECESSARILY

the designs Of certain persons to
drive the United States into war with
Mexico
1t seems that the President should
deem it also his duty to warn the
American people against the design
OF certain people and newspapers to
drive the United States into war
with the Central Powers of Europe.
The recent destruction Of, or dam
age to, the Fubantia, Sussex and
Engllshman have given new lease
of life to the Anglo-French propa-
ganda abroad and in this country
against Germany's policy OF fright
fulness."
TIE wires which, by leave Of Eng
land still connect us with Europe,
have rippled with waves of reports
which may be discounted at sight
The Tubantia was torpedoed, OF
course, and the offending submarine
naturally flew the German flag Yet
the Netherlands government has
been reluctant to assert the fact, so
easily asserted by the pro-English
press in this country, that she was
torpedoed.
The case OF the Persia has not yet
were the same charges which have
been made in relation to the recent
victims of war in belligerent waters.
A Washington despatch to evening
newspapers OF last Monday con-
tanned this categorical statement:
president Wilson has before him
evidence of positive character
showing that the Channel liner Sus-
sex was torpedoed; that three Amer
lean citizens on board were badly
injured as a result Of Gcrmany's un-
friendly act" The story which fol-
lowed contained, however, no infor-
nation not given US previously.
Even now we do not know any
more as we did then. Nothing Of
positive prove" i'll connection with
the damage done to the Sussex or of
the destruction of the Englishman
has come to light, and the Cabinet
has instructed Secretary Lansing to
have Ambassador Gerard inquire OF
tho Berlin Governments, il a German
submarine has torpodoed the Sussex.
The French Admiralty was, OF
course, prompt in sending out the
report that the Sussex had becn tor
podood ana the American Embassy
in Paris followed in friendly suit as
would he seen from tho despatch
sent 10 the New York Tribune by its
Paris correspondent.
"The Embassy is now practically
satisfied, said the correspondent,
"that Professor Mark Baldwin and
his wife and daughter We're killed.
A circumstantial story follows, de-
claring that Miss Baldwin was killed,
and that both her father and mother
were rendered unconscious by the
explosion and consequently washed
oycrboard. Some hours later a cable
message was received by friends on
Professor Baldwin in Washington
and Princeton announcing that all
members Of his family were saved.
The positive proof" which Mr..
Wilson is said TO have before MIN,
that the Sussex was torpedoed, IS
based, more likely than not, upon
Testimony equally valuable.
One has only to recall the stories
given out by survivors Of the ill-
fated Persia and Hesperian to assess
at their proper value the aifdavits
OF panic stricken passengers, victims
Of the perils Of war, who are incom-
potent to discern between the silver
trail of torpcdocs and the wake Of
a porpoise
What positive prove" the Presi-
dent NAV have we do not know. A
careful searching Of the news coli
umns Of the pro-Britisn press Is not
illuminating. The editorial express
sions Of the same press, however,
arc Instructive
frt
have lightly jumped TO the con-
clusicn that the Sussex and the Eng
lishman were damaged or destroyed
BY German submarines. They have
no authority for any such assump-
ton These vessels may have come
to grief at the hand OF submarines
and yet, were this shown it would
remain TO be proved that the sub
marines few the German flag. 1t is
not without the bounds OF possibility
that England, driven to desperation,
should have instructed her own un-
dersea boats to perpetrste such an
outrage It is more likely, however,
thatsthe Sussex came to grief by con
tact with one Of those mines which
England has sown for her own pro-
lection.
This seems 10 be born out Oy the
AFFIDAVIT signed by Mossrs. Edward
s. Huxley and Francis r. Drake, OF
New York, who were passengers on
tho Sussex The afiidayit, which was
forwarded TO the State Department
by Ambassador Page at London,
reads as follows:
AT 3.05, when we were about an
hour and half from Folkstone, we
were seated on the deck talking, a
little less than half way back on the
starboard side Without the slightest
warning there occurred loud roar
| ing explosion Wreckage and tons
of walerJwere thrown into tho air
| higher than the masts, and the water
cnme down on the boat as far back
as the stern"
Germany has given certain under
takings 10 the United States in tho
matter Of tho conduct or her sub
! marine warfare, and until it is alb
solutely proven that she has broker
her promises, she is entitled TO The
/ benefit Of tho doubt. Alludng tt
( the Central Powers, Mr.. Wilson re
marked in his letter TO Senator
| II. A4f. "a. h. 80.