Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-09-28
GERMAN PERFIDY
Congressman Dale Tells Tersely
and ElOquently of German
Atrocities and Why We Are at
War.

On Saturday September 18th the
House of Representatives had under
consideration deficiency Appropri-
ations" at which time Congressman
Porter H. Dale spoke in favor Of
raising revenue to prosecute the war,
and eloquentIy told of German per-
fidy and the atrocities that nation
had enacted which caused US to en-
ter the war and which we must car
ry on until these methods shall be
overcome and the rights of humanity
protected.
CongressmanDale's speech follows:
Mr.. DALE of Vermont. Mr.. Chair
man, l most cordially agree with the gen
tleman from Kentucky (Mr. Sherley),
who has in his very clear style impressed
upon this committee the necessity of rails
ing revenue to prosecute this war even
though there are objections from some
sources
| have asked the House to indulge me
for just few minutes in touching upon a
phase of this great warfare that has been
brought very keenly to- our attention dur
ing the past few days. That is the attack
upon the American base hospitals, in
,,,biob +bo Grc+ oy,o,,n o,,r forooe II, Fro ~ M
have been killed-four men killed, four
Others seriously wounded and manned for
life, and five Others moderately wounded.
Mr. Chairman, this organization in
which they were serving represents the
most effective effort of humanity to lessen
the horror of war. 1t is a branch of the
military establishment based on the
broadest sense Of compassion in these re-
cent times. To its insignia no human
heart has ever responded in hate Under
the banners of battling foes its interna-
tional flag had passed on the pledge of
civilized nations that the red cross in the
white field must not be rent by shot or
shell. Any beligerent who at this time at
tacks that system not only ignores the
common ethics Of war but violates the
rules of fair fight, strikes below the belt,
and becomes contemplate (Applause. J
Why, gentlemen, this organization was
established by II great European nations.
At its creation its articles were signed by
Prussia and later Germany pledged its
faith to it, The first liberal donor was
that beneGcent woman, still living, at
thought of whom one seems to hear pure
tone among all these sweet bells tangled
out of tune-Louise of Baden, daughter
of Wilhelm l, once King Of Prussia and
Emperor Of Germany
In the Franco-Prussian War the first
blood that flowed from German soldiers
was staunched by Red Cross nurses and
over all the magnificent castles of the
grand duchess, turned by her into hospi-
tails, foated with the scarlet and gold OF
Baden the red and white Of that great in
ternational society. To these fields and
hospitals, to help care for these soldiers
as the patron of the grand duchess, went
that Incompatible American woman,
Clara Barton. (Applause. In 1887,
when Miss Barton went again to Germany
as president of the American Red Cross
and as the appointed delegate of the
United States to the International Red
Cross Convention at Carlsruhe, she was
received by the aged Emperor with the
assurance that Germany welcomed all
those who we're engagedin the great work
of humanity.
These are some of the reasons-and !
have time to mention only a few-why
the Red Cross had particular confidence
in the protection of the German Govern
ment, confidence akin to that which a
faithful child bears toward itsnatural par
ent. The ruin of that confidence was an
insane price to pay for a little wider
spread of frightfulness. And there is a
deep significance in the fact that the first
to die among our troops in France fell I'M
der the emblem that the assailing foe was
pledged by international covenant to pass
unharmed. 1t is because Of acts like this,
because of the violation of all internation-
al covenants by the Imperial Govern
ment many times repeated, on sea and
land, that she has lost the one-time deep
friendiness of this Government toward
her. That is reason why we are in this
war, and it is madman's price for any
nation to pay for little wider spread Of
frightfulness.
1t has been proclaimed that we have
no enmity toward the German people
This is true respecting them in common
with all peoples of the earth. But by its
conduct of affairs nation makes a char.
acter, personality, and by that created
essence takes its place in civilization
From its once high and honorable estate
by its own Infamous use Of strength anc