Gilpin observer., 1917-11-08
PRESIDENTS war
MESSAGE GARBLED
Full Text Withheld From People
of Germany by Kaiser's
Government.
PASSAGES were SUPPRESSED
Report Of Wolff Telegraph Bureau,
Unofficial Mouthpiece Of Kaiser,
Shows Wilson's Address
Distorted.

The German people never had an op-
portunity to read the full text Of the
address delivered by President Wilson
before congress on April 2, 1917, In
which the president called upon con-
gress to declare the existence of the
state Of war then being waged upon
the United States by Germany. In the
copies of this address which were per-
mitted to be published in Germany,
many passages We're suppressed, ac-
cording to the committee on public
Information Of the United States gov
ernment. The passages suppressed in
cluded those in which the president
told why the United States had been
forced to enter into the war against
Germany in protection of it's rights and
In order to make the world safe for
democracy.
The committee on public information
has issued copy of the presidents
address, showing the passages which
were suppressed by the Wolff Tele-
graph bureau, which is under govern
ment censorship and has been consist
emily employed by the German govern
ment for the promulgation of its Off
cial opinions. The following is an Of
hcial copy Of the presidents address
with the passages suppressed by the
Wolf Telegraph bureau shown in bold
faced type:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
nave called the congress into extra
ordinary session because there are Sc
rious. very serious, choices of policy to
ne made. and made Immediately. which
IL is neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that should assume the re-
sponsibility OF making
On the I'D OF February last l officially
laid before you the extraordinary an
nouncement Of the Imperial German
government that on and after the lst
day of February II was its purpose to
put aside all restraints of law or of hu-
manity and use its submarines to sink
every vessel that sought to approach
either the ports OF Great Britain and
ireland or the western coasts of Europe
or any OF the ports controlled by the
enemies of Germany within the Medi-
terranean. That had seemed to be the
object OF the German submarine war
fare earlier in the war. but since April
or last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the coIflman-
ders OF Its undersea craft. in conform
ity with Its promise, then given to ms,
that passenger boats should not be
sunk, and that due warning would be
Kiven TO all other vessels which its
submarines might seek to destroy.
when NO resistance was offered or es-
cape attempted, and care taken that
their crews were Given at least a fair
chance to save their lives In their omen
bonts. The precautions taken were
meaEer and hapha.nrd enough, as was
proved In distressing instance after
Instance In the progress of the cruel
and unmanly business, hut a certain de-
gree Of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels of every kind
whatever their nnR, their character
their cargo, their destination, their
errnnd. have been ruthlessly sent to
the bottom without warning and with
out thought of help or mercy for those
on board the vessels OF friendly neu-
trails along with those of belligerents
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief to the sorely bereaved and strick-
en- people of belgium, though the lat
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself and were
distinEuished by unmistnknble marks
of identity, have been sunk with the
same reckless lack OF compassion or
of principle
was for n little while unable to
believe that such things would In fact
be done by amy government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Inter-
national law had Its origin In the at
tempt to set up some law which would
be respected and observed upon the
seas, where NO nation had right Of
dominion and where lay the free high
ways of the world. BY painful stage
after stage has that law been built up
with meager enough results, indeed.
after all "'as accomplished that could
be accomplished but always with n
clear view, Mt least. of what the heart
Hnd conscience Of mankind demanded.
This minimum of right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea OF retaliation and necessity and
because II had no weapons which II
could use at sea except these which
II Is impossible TO employ as II Is en-
ploying them. without throwing to the
wind all scruples OF humanity or of
respect for the understandings that
were supposed to underlie the inter-
course OF the world
am not now thinking of the loss of
property involved. immense and serious
as that liz, but only of the wanton and
non -combatants, men. women. and chill
dren. engaged n pursuits which have
always, even In the darkest periods OF
modern history. been deemed innocent
and legitimate. Property cnn be paid
fort the lives of peaceful and Innocent
people cannot be. The present German
submarine warfare against commerce
is a warfare against mankind.
II In a war against all nations. Amer
ican ships have been sunk, American
lives taken, In why's which II has
stirred us very deeply 10 learn Of, but
the ships mad people of other neutral
and friendly nations have been sunk