The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-11-08


So we have seen how the Germans
conducted themselves in Belgium and
how they treated one British officer,
which is by no means an isolated case.
For-this not to me, but in Colonel
Vandeleur's statement to the British
war off1ce-he tells of car ahead of
his where, the men being threatened
with suffocation. they hammered so
madly on the walls of the car that at
last carpenter was brought, who cut
a small round hole for air.
VIOLATED HAGUE CONVENTION.
Let US see for a moment what the
Belgians had right to expect from
the invading army, considering Bel
GUM not neutral but enemy territory.
Germany had subscribed to The
Hague convention, that gentleman's
agreement between nations which was
designed, since wars seemed inevi-
table, to make for fairness and de-
cency. BY Article 46 of that conven-
ton Belgium, as enemy territory, has
this claim:
"Fami1y honor and rights, individ-
ual life, and private property, as we'll
as religious convictions and worship,
must be respected.
"Private property may not be con-
fscated."
Article %:
"The giving over to pillage Of
town or place, even when ta8en by
assault, is forbidden.
"In sieges and commandments all
necessary steps must be ttken to
spare. as far as possible, build ngs ded-
icated to public worship, art science,
or charitable purposes, historic monu-
ments, hospitals, and places where
the sick and wounded are collected.
provided they are not being used at
| the time for military purposes"
That is what Belgium had a right
to expect. What she has had, in wan
ton destruction Of historical monu-
ments, we know. That is what France.
too, had right to expect, and what
she got, thatsalso we know.
But The Hague convention did more
than order the protection Of cities and
| noncombatants It ordered such hui
manity as was possible toward the OPP
posing army; it forbade the use or
poison or poisoned weapons, the say
| ing that no quarter would be given,
the killing of men who had surren-
dered. the use Of arms, material or
projectiles calculated to cause Unnec-
essary suffering; 1t forbade the attack
or bombardment by any means what
ever of undefended towns, villages
dwellings or buildings.
| On every one of these counts Ger
many must plead guilty. Every viola
ton Of them is one reason why we are
at war.
WHY WE ARE AT WAR.
We are at war today not because
the crown prince Of Austria was killec
la Serbia but because the German
army protected its advance with non
combatants-men,w women and ch1loren
We are at war today not because
German submarines sunk battleshlpS
but because they have sunk ana are
sinking peaceful vessels, little hshlns
boats, when the fishermen were labor
ing to get scant livelihood. anC
great unarmed passenger ships car
rving Observation-Disclosures women
and children.
wv
zens Of conquered Belgium who diet
protecting their women.
We are at war because of that Ger
man order Of August "a, 1914, To-
frightfulness.
We are at war against the convic
ton. In German minds, that might Il
right, that the end justifles any means
) no matter how brutal.
We are clean and humane people
We would not believe these things
first, A million and half Belgian
fed to England with the story. W.
> we're still incredulous. Noncombatant
were sunk at sea. We still felt Their
must be some Justification New ant
ever new crueIties Of death came from
the German trenches, and we hav'
said: '"This is modern war.
Rut the score is mounting highe
day by day. The politics Of this wa
: are lost in its inhumanities, fathere'
by German skill. 1t was not enough
that men should die. They must d1
horribly.
i We have never understood. w
; have been people of ideals, confront
ing a nation Of Grass materia1ists. ]
is time for us to understand. But 1t
not time. and never will be time, 70
the American people to stoop to tn
methods of an enemy which Woui'
again today. If the necessity arose
protect its advance by the helples
forms of old men, Of women and
= children.
s" ="
It is well for us to pause for mo
ment to look back on these things
We were skeptica1 at first, but tim
has shown their truth, for they ar
Of a piece with the things that hav
happened since. They belong wit
! the Lusftania and the little f1shin
hoats With the attacks ON London