New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-14
A Typical German Document


Though hypocrisy is an art monopolized
by no country. yet its particular manfes-
tations are often so essentially national
that We have no difficulty in recognizing
more or less we'll defined types as proper
! to the genius of several nations. Some
times it is not easy to determine precisely
what it is that imparts the national stamp,
even when the national character is clearly
felt. What, for instance, is there that is
so peculiar and unmistakable in the Ger
man type? We recognize it at once; as,
for instance. when the Kaiser's imperial
heart began to bleed for innocent Belgium,
when the German Foreign Office fastened
after the Lusitania massacre to send US
cts heartfelt sympathy for the loss of
American lives" when the whole German
nation. followed dutifully by Mr.. Bernard
Ridder and all loyal Commandments,
declared their love and pity for poor, mis-
guided France. In these and hundred
similar instances we arc all conscious of
some quality Enthusiastically and ineyi-
Itably German, and yet we might find it diff
fcult to tell exactly what that quality is.
For really inimitable example of the
same national form of smooth dissimula
ton The Tribune is indebted to Nine.
Eugene Maloubier, of Brooklyn. 1t con-
sists of a printed document picked up in
her native town of Montbeliard, few
miles from Belfort. 1t was dropped there
by a German balonet, and is by way of an
appeal and apology to the good people of
France. 1t is dated from Berlin and be-
gins with a sorrowful recapitulation of the
injuries suffered by innocent persons in
several towns of Germany as consequence
of French air raids. The Germans, in the
innocence Of heir hearts, were, as it ap-
pears, unable at first to believe that the
French government could be guilty of such
acts of barbarty; they Thought that your
airmen might possibly have been mistaken
in the execution of their orders The
proclamation proceeds as follows:
"Frcnchmen' Your airmen were not
mistaken An accident has acquainted
us with the origin of these crimes!
eve know to-day, beyond all manner
of doubt, that they were committed at
the cypress order of your government.
at is your President PoincGr6 him
self rho suggested this order, and he rs
not ashamed 10 hare inclined his ear to
the base prompting OF the English.
"The English know quite as well as
you and we that the French people is
weary of the blood sacrifice this war
has cost it. That is lOhy some means
must be sought to create ne1O anger and
hatred against Germany.
Gould better way be found than to
cause your open towns to be bombarded
by German airmen? Well, then, in
order to bring about this event the Eng
lish conceived the diabolical project Of
| causing the bombardment of Karlsruhe
and other peaceful places, far removed
from the field Of military operations.
President Poincare, lOho is to-day the
SIdve Of England, and who will fall as
soon as your flags have been furled,
made himself the constituencies agent Of
this deed.
There is the plan as it was con-
ceived, and don't forget that it is an
English plan!!
Germany makes war on the French
armies, not on the civil population, the
women and the children. She hopes that
this explanation will suffice to prevent
French squadrons from engaging in any
more barbarous attacks Of this kind. In
case of further offences Germany will
be obliged to take similar measures in
self-defence.
But then you will know, Frenchmen,
that this Slage Of England, Monsieur
Poincdr6, will be answerable for the
blood of the innocent victims, and that it
is English barbarism that has forced US
to bring destruction and mourning TO
your towns far removed from the front"
1t is difficult to say why this amazing
appeal is so Enthusiastically German. Per-
Ihaps it is a certain grossness that gives
the national hallmark to its absurdity-
that. combined with a certain whining syc-
ophancy. But whatever it may be, the
document is thoroughly typical product
of the great nation Of agelasts. 1t could
only have been made in Germany.