TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-02-05
The RypocriticaI Leaders
Of Humanity.

Of Humanity.
The following editorial was
published by the New York Evening
Mail" under the caption "a Mans
Fight. We strongly recommend this
article to the attention Of the "Cleve-
land Press" which seems 70 be tax.
ing a mental 1oyride with John Bull
as chauffeur.
A MANS FIGHT.
with a sort Of ghoulish delight
certain writer's are attempting to
demonstrate that Germany is on the
verge OF starvation. They paint
glowing pictures Of women raiding
butcher markets and Of little chill
dren SO hungry that they CRY and
cannot go to sleep. II the picture
were true, it would be one to call
forth tears, not shouts Of Joy. 10
would be the tragedy Of all history
If the victorious armies Of a great
nation had to be called home and
disbanded. and that nation dismem-
bered at the will Of its enemies, be-
cause its women and children were
starving.
If the German civilian population
were really starving, u State de-
partment at Washington would be
deeply concerned oyer the matter.
It has time and again, in its diplo-
matte notes, pointed out the illegal
ity Of the British blockade, designed
to effect this starvation. The stats
department has contended that we
eoud not accede to this stoppage OF
our food supplies for the German
civilian population without violating
that neutrality which we choose to
| observe, In this stand the State do.
partment simply restates the posi-
ton Of Thomas Jefferson in 1893,
when he protested against an Illegal
British blockade Of France in these
words:
Were we to withhold from France
supplies and provisions, We should
In like manner be bound TO with
hold them from her enemies alsosSs
Great Britain may, indeed, feel the
desire Of starving an enemy ma.
ton, but she can have no right OF
doing II at our loss nor Of making
us the instrument Of 1t.
Now a possible reason why the
| State department has not gone fur
Their than to insist on paper upon
our right to ship provisions TO Ger
man civilians through this unlawful
blockade - a possible reason is that
Germany has been able to meet the
situation, Were she actually stary.
ing. Washington would view with
quite different eyes our participation
by acquiescence, in the process.
Germans are on short rations, but
no part Of the population 10 on the
verge Of starvation. The infant death
rate ia lower than In peace time.
The supplies OF wheat captured In
Roumanla are to be at once reflected
In a larger weekly bread allowance.
In addition, the great Roumanian
crop Of winter wheat Is in the
around, growing under the snow.
Travellers in Germany report great
herds of young cattle and swine
which by next fall will alleviate the
present shortage of meats, fats and
butter. The economic situation In
| Germany to-day Is far better than
a year ago.
II Is the irreconcilable American
p~artisans IN this var who are at
tempting to figure some way in which
the German nation may be starved.
The British leaders entertain no such
fallacy. Lloyd George. the premier,
long ago renowned such hopes, and
even said that such a victory was
undesirable. He wanted to win like
a man. When minister Of munitions
he said. early last June:
II is Germany's military force
that we must beat II Is not
enough to force her into submis-
sion by economic pressure. A
q imposed on Germany ex-
hausted in food and materials only
would not be endurable. II would
be a moral defeat for the allies.
The Germans could say that they
had beaten us in battle and made
peace only because we had starved
their women and children. That
peace we don't want.
In England they have been work.
ing and hoping for a victory over
men. 1t is the AnglorAmerican who
are hoping for a victory over women
and children. The United States will
have 10 live with all these bellig.
erents after the war Is over. II Il
TO be- hoped that the German people
win realize that Americans as q
whole are better men and better
sportsmen than the few Of US, Wild
60 about whining for starvation q
subdne Germany.