New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-11
4 Plea for Systematic ReprisalS
allies Should Give Notice of Policy of Strict Redd'0" t0 0'e0'"e'
of Laws of War
Bv Charles Sicwdrt Dawson

serious matter and that in its conduct this
country will not shrink from severely JUST
measures both at home and abroad
II il again important for our future reia-
lions latter the war; with Germany. Sha'i
We be better friends if we foster her AFRO
CANT contempt for the Stupid Yankees ASK
any one who knows the Germans ana tne"
character. IL is also important from tne lac'
that the first reprisal we may be compelled 10
undertake on prominent German reslden1s
here will raise an insistent demand in Ger
many from her decenter classes Tor cessa-
ton Of the unspeakable atrocities her rulers
have practised in her name. The personal
innocence of the victims Though If Germany
rauses only Imprisonment will be necessary
il no more than the personal innocence OF
the innumerable victims that have been muir
dered. have been tortured have been starred,
havc been outraged and have been degraded
into the absolute condition of brute animals
by these disgusting savages whose mere exist
ence upon the earth in their present uncivil-
lied condition is dishonor to the human
race.
Scratch Russian and you will find a
Tartar" was formerly said, but Scratch a
German and you will find beast will be
said for hundreds of years TO come. The
veneer has disappeared We have full warn
ing. The question is, Are we Intelligent
enough to profit by it.
Reply to Savagery
IL would seem that we should not dellb-
erately throw away this resource, OF when
we are allowed to avail ourselves by inc
laws of war and which would tend to shorten
the war, for the mere purpose OF pretending
that we are superior beings, when at the
70 cfr N
German soldiers and we are doing our best to
starve their non-combatants into submission
Prav remember that what : am discussing IS
legitimate judicial" reprsal, not practising
equivalent savagery; not bombing hospitals,
but imprisonng Germans and giving notice
that we will execute certain number II saw
agery is practised against US.
Demonstrative proof Of the absolute truth
of what | have said is afforded even as /
write, England having suffered Germanys
barbarities for three years-stupidly refusing
to apply the doctrine Of reprlsal and fstuous-
~ applauding herself for her imaginary hui
manitarianism in allowing her women and
children to be slaughtered-at last came to
her senses. Goaded beyond endurance, she
changed her view last week. Immediately
merely because of public speech BY Lloyd
George that reprisals would be instituted
Germany has ceased her daily attacks on
London. Simultaneously she rushed to the
Pope with secret pleas-impelled also by the
French having bombed several smaller Ger
man cities as reprisal in the last ten days
Swiftly (indeed, yesterday, October 81 an
nouncement is made from Rome that lnfiu-
ence is to be exerted by Rome to bring about
discontinuance of aerial raids upon open
cities. So long as Germany INDUCED in bar
barity unchecked and unrebuked the matter
has been taken as an exhibition of German
"thoroughness" Dust as the mlder races
covered before the Mongols in the thirteenth
century,
The instant that il becomes apparent that
the effect Of reprisas would help world
peace-by bringing the German population
to its senses and causing a revolt in Ger
many against her autocrats- are
made with the usual German "indirection"
70 have a pretended concession obtained
from her by Rome, but only TO prevent the
rood effect in Germany OF the institution OF
reprisals taking place. 1t is demonstration.
She breaks the laws OF war as long as she
il allowed b. weaklings to do so without
penalty. She allows herself to be persuaded
70 stop on mere threat coupled with a slight
beginning of reprisals. With the knowledge
Of the pro-German influences at the Vatican
even Z blind man can read between the lines.
The announcement to Germany BY all the
Allied nations that jointly and unitedly from
now henceforth strict reprisal will meet every
breach of the laws Of war will terminate the
war much earlier, save thousands of lives,
billions of money and untold unnecessary
misery for the civilized peoples OF the earth