Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-05-16

APPEAL.

The people of Germany are ex-
periencing what the southern coun-
try was compelled to face during
the war between the states-deprlva'
ton of all Injuries as we'll as many
necessaries of life-by reason OF a
strict blockade. Those of us who pas
sed through the dismal days in om
own land know how to sympathlze
with, other members of the race when
they are put upon short ratlons. Inc
Gazette a few days ago, while ex-
pressing sympathy for the besleged
Teutons, recalled the fact that over
forty years ago their souls also went
out to the Parisians who were lore
ed to slaughter animals in the Zoo
and to eat cats, dogs and rats while
the German Gordon Of steel was
around the French capital. They were
eventually starved into capitulatlon.
Germany is now appealing to the
civilized world in her distress. But
we must suppose that our Teutonc
friends were familiar with the obser-
walton of the late General Sherman
concerning war. The Lynchburg
News in commenting upon present
conditions in the Fatherland says:
Apropos of Germany's plant over
the British blockade of German ports
cutting off Germany's food supplies,
which Germany claims is contrary to
the laws of nations, some persons
with long memories or VINO
read history carefully, are reminding
Germany that in 1901, when Ger
many had Paris surrounded, it re:
fused to permit single morsel OF
food to be shipped into the beleaguer-
ed city, forcing babies to starVe ny
the thousands, and the people to eat
rats and dogs and, cats, which were
bought at high prices for food, The
Germans at that time were not so
deeply affected at sight OF starving
babies as they are now, and they
thought it perfectly legitimate to
starve people into submission, and as
a matter of fact, that is about the
most humane way of bringing people
to terms. 1t is far better than shoot
ing their houses and themselves to
pieces, and generally devastating the
country. So the Germans seemed to
think in the seventies, but today they
take a different view of it; they think
or affect to think, that the British,
by cutting off Germany's food sup
plies. are. acting in the most cruel
manner; whereas, they can put
stop to it any day by accepting the
terms of their adversaries and thus
ending the war.
Is there a. sensible man anywhere
who believes if the Germans had the
better fleet. and Great Britain was
blockaded, Germany would permit a
morsal. of food to reach the inhab-
itants of Britain that Germany could
keep out, until Britain agreed to sub
nit to the most humiliating terms of
surrender?
It is thus seen that Germany cry
is not an honest cry, but is simply
an effort to arouse sympathy among
neutral countries and prejudlces
against Great Britain. Germany espe-
cially sees how soft the people of the
United States are, anyhow, gong
about all over the world trying to
feed the millions of people the Ger,
mans have reduced to starvation, and
they do not see why some of this
sympathy may not be expended on
them. But Americans can discanll-
nate, and do discriminate in this case
They feel deep sympathy with the
babies, the old people, the sick and
the helpless in Germany, but at the
same time, they feel that Germany
should be the first to sympathize with
them, and to stop the practices and
the war that have brought starva-
ton and sorrow to- these people. Ger
many can end all, the sorrow any dav
she is willing to end IL.
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