The Washington times., 1917-02-06
Here and There
In the News

| AhcEICdu ClIlLenS OF German uo-
scent are advised, by what is called
"the morning leading German news
paper in the United States" that
"cool-headedness and wisely consid-
cred action should be the first COM
mandment in these serious times"
But why American citizens of Ger
man descent?" II they are american
citizens" In fact, what does 1t matter
where their ancestors came from?
What action" could they be expect
ed to take that was not wholly Amer
lean? What special commandment
should they need for their guidance
"in these serious times?" Why should
their so-called leading journalistic ad-
wiser speak of them as a class apart
from all other Americans OF foreign
descent and requiring special counsel
as to their duty as american citi-
zens?" A better commandment than
that given to them by their self-con-
stituted guardian might be given by
them to It: Keep your parts Of
speech straight and your mouth shut"
Housatonie q Familiar Name.
Contemporaneously with the Presi-
dents determination to sever dipIo-
matte relations with Germany the
! United States steamer Housatonic was
/ torpedoed by a German submarine on
the high seas. The name Is familiar.
| Nearly fifty-three years ago, or, to be
exact, on February II, 1854, the block
ader steamsloop Housatonic, carry
ing eleven guns, was sunk off
Charleston harbor by fish," or div
ing, torpedo-boat. In Johnson's book
The Defense of Charleston Harbor"
1T is said that this boat was Fitted
out in Charleston and commanded by
Lieut.. G. E. Dixon, of the Twenty
first Alabama Regiment. This dar-
ing officer and his crew OF six per
ished In the attack.
Lay Side BY Side.
after the war the fish boat was
found at the bottom close to the wreck
of the larger vessel. Captain Picker
ing Of the Housatonic was seriously
bruised by the explosion, and five
others were drowned: Ensign E. C.
Hazeltine, c. o. Muzzey, John VIII
liams, Thomas Parker, and John
Walsh" In his report to Rear Ad-
miral Dahlgren OF the sinking Of the
Housatonic, Lieut.. F. ]. Higginson,
commanding the canandaigua, said:
About s:45 .. m. the officer of
the deck, Acting Master J. K
Crosby, discovered something in the
water about 100 yards from and
moving toward the ship. 1t had the
appearance of a plank moving in
the water. 1t came directly toward
the ship, the time from when IL was
FIRST seen till II was close alongside
being about two minutes. During
this time the chain was slipped,
engine backed, and all hands called
to quarters. The torpedo struck
the ship forward OF the mizzen-
mast on the starboard side, in line
with the magazine. Having the
after pivot guns pivoted port, we
were unable to bring a gun to bear
upon her. About one minute after
she was close alongside the explo-
sion took place, the ship sinking
stern first and heeling to port as
she sank"
This Is an interesting bit of history
about the war that never was There
seems to be something In "a name,
after all.
Strategy In War.
All sorts Of suggestions are being
made by the strategists as to how the
military operations should be con-
Quoted IL the United States should be
forced into war. One of the ancients,
who still believes in the squirrel rife
as a most effective weapon of both
ofrense and defense, thinks there
should be council of war to pass
upon questions OF strategy and serv-
ice, but that would hardly work in
hA 1wo l. l.
ing war. General Grant seemed to
have the right idea ffty years ago.
All he wanted was men and munitions
and time. What he did not want and
would not stand for was interference
from advisers who did not know any
thing except in the most theoretical
way about the conditions at the front
and how to meet them.
Dewey and His Methods.
Admiral Dewey also had the right
view when he cut the cables and did
his own fghting. Grant was ordered
to go to Richmond aDd he got there
after considerable difficulty. Dewey
was ordered to destroy the Spanish
ships at Manila and he did his work
thoroughly without orders from the
executive office at Washington. II
/ war bnOulQ come WIN Germany, the
President will doubtless select his
agents to do certain things and leave
the rest to them. II his selections are
good he need not bother.
The Austrian Ambassador.
If 1t should be determined that dip
lomatic relations between the United
States and Austria Hungary should
cease, Count Tarnowski may fnd
some comfort in the thought that he
is not the first who stopped before he
got fairly started. The epitaph in
Cheltenham churchyard on a child
who died at the age OF three weeks,
in the event that he receive his pass-
ports, would seem to fit his>own case
very well:
at is so soon that I am done for,
I wonder what I was begun for"
Should Children BE Suppressed.
Talking yesterday about certain
men who delight to speak of their
own personal bravery in trying emer-
gencies and when facing fearful
odds'.'. the story was told OF the vet.
-