The Delta independent., 1917-02-23
DROPS NOBLE TASK
AMERICA CAN'T LONGER KEEP
WATCH OVER WELFARE OF
PRISONERS OF WAR.
HAS DONE THE WORK WELL
With Prospect of Other NeutraIs Fol-
lowing Its Lead, What Nation viii
Guard the interests Of Those Un-
fortunates?
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


Washington.-ln the stress of events
accompanying and following the break
ing off of diplomatic relations between
the United States and Germany, has
anyone thought of what the severing of
the bonds between the two countries
means To hundreds of thousands, per
haps millions of prisoners of warf
II Is within my knowledge that tn"
German government has been not only
satisfied but gratified at the manner in
which the wants of the German pris
oners in Great Britain and in France
have been safeguarded by the Ameri-
cans connected with our country's en-
bassies in the two countries whose du-
ties included the oversight of the men
taken on the field of battle, later TO
enter the camplike prisons of France
and OF England.
America, until Saturday, had in her
charge the welfare of perhaps a mil
lion prisoners of war in Russia, of an
other 100000 in France. of 60,oo0 in the
British isles aud of hundreds of thou
sands in the German empire.
Not only did the members of the
American embassies In these countries
keep watch over the welfare OF the
prisoners in the permanent camps of
the different countries. but on occasion
they travelled TO the different fighting
fronts there TO observe the treatment
which was accorded prisoners, newly
taken In battle. while they were on
their guarded way TO the temporary
interumeut camps at the rear Of the
lines
Who viii Care for Them?
Today all Is changed. Diplomatic re-
lntions between the United States ana
Germany have hecn broken and the
United States must give over its nuevi-
ntinr work OF seeing to II that humane
treatment Is given to the prisoners
within the territories OF the warning
countries. The United States repre-
sentatives could not interfere but they
could make reports upon conditions
and the knowledge that these reports
were to be made In many instances
has made the To-; Of the prisoners easier
to bear.
II ~ believed in Washington tbnt sew
ernl Of the neutral governments are
likely to follow the lead of the United
States In sevcrinE diplomatic relations
with Germany. II this shall be the
case what is to be the fate OF the pris-
oners7
II is perfectly conceivable that with
In n few days or few weeks there
may be no neutral country still having
diplomatic relations with Germany
which has the force. the equipment and
the temperament to do for the prison
Ii. a IL.
has done for them.
II is the Intention OF all countries TO
be kindly TO prisoners of war, but meth
ods are different and ON occasion the
equation OF the individual enters into
the matter and unless there be con-
stant vigil. abuses may prevail.
Must Be Friendly With All.
The oversight OF the prisoners In
nearly all the warning countries must
he given into the hands of some neu-
trail nation which still has diplomatic
relations with Germany. The thing
works both ways. A country may be
In full diplomatic Intercourse with the
niles and yet not with Germany. or in
full accord with Germany but not with
the allies. The embassy which has
friendly diplomatic relations with all
the warning countries.
Germany may turn over the care of
her prisoners to nation which Is in
diplomatic intercourse with her today
but which may not be tomorrow. There
may be succession of breaklngs away
from diplomatic ties within n short
time. II Will he difficult for the war
ring countries to arrange permanently
for the care OF the lives and the health
OF their prisoners In hand.
Conditions in Washington.
Washington in n war scare timc
is perhaps the most humanity interest
ing plnce ON this continent. The
fact that attempts are made TO
suppress excitement In White House.
state department, capitol and on the
streets makes the situation even the
more pulsing.
There Is nothing like tenseness to
nccentunte the evident gravity and
tragedy of things. On the day that the
German note came declaring that sub
marine warfare would go on after n
manner of conduct decided upon by
the extremists of the naval warfare
propngandists of the empire, the whole
inspect OF things in the capital OF the
nation changed. There had been an
evident relaxation of feeling and an
evident uplifting of the spirits of men
who believed that pence wns at hand.
This condition came following the
presidents address to the senate.
Then in the passing of n minute cond-
ahpnunI mud xrhiIn N NJ
was made to maintain calmness. ex-