Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-09-06
THE CAUSES LEADING UP
TO OUR WAR WITH GERMANY
CONTINUED from page ~


are the peoples OF other countries,
since they defend what other peoples
condemn.
Your government has bombarded |
unfortified seacoast towns which Am.
orleans know from personal observa-
ton. both before the war and during |
the bombardment. were not defended
in any way. Mothers and babies were
blown to shreds, but nc military dam.
age was done in most cases. Dozens
of helpless old men, women and chill
dren were killed for every soldier
slain. The same is true of your Yep
pelin raids. Americans believe these
acts are committed Cor the purpose Of
stirring us enthusiasm among the
German populace. They believe such
acts are in defiance of the rules Of
civilized warfare, that they are utterly
inhuman and barbarous, and that a
nation which approves and applauds
such senseless slaughter is less civil.
|
British government has steadfastly re-
fused To accede to the clamor OF few
of its citizens who urge a policy of
wholesale reprisals against German
opaT towns. Americans honor this
respect for the rules of civilized war
fare and regret that even occasionally
France has yielded to the provocation
'or reprisal raids against such place
as FriDurg. The fact that Germany
began tie slaughter of babies and
women IT defiance of the rules of war,
and hns kept it up in frequent raids
by warships. Zeppelins, and aero
planes, whereas the allies have very
seldom attacked open towns. and then
only as occasional reprisals following
peculiarly barbarous German attacks,
has won for Germany the condemna-
ton. and for the allies the commenda.
tion OF the civilized world.
The Lusitania atrocity removed
from the minds OF the American PEG.
pie the last possible doubt as to the
essential barbarity of the German gov
; ernm,nt. No other government pre-
; ending TO be civilized has ever shock
ed the entire world by such a sicken
ing crime against humanity. II is ut
torly incOnceivable that the American
nation could descend so low in tn,
, scale OF humanity as TO order the de.
. litcrate destruction of an English ship
bearing hundreds of innocent German
women and children across the seas
But II such thing were conceivable,
YOU could not find in the American
navy an officer who would obey the
inhuman order. Nor do Americans
, believe that the English or French
governments could ever disgrace theiI
countries honor by such barbarous
man of your position and intelligence
can find II in his heart to defend ar
act which has for ever stained the
fair name and honor of your COun
try.
ri read with amaZement your assCr
lions that the Lusitania was armed
, that she carried ammunition in def
ance OF American laws, and that on
official inspection of her was careless
Your own government has itself aban
) doned the false charge that the LUIS
! tania carried guns, and no longe
q makes such a ridiculous claim; Will
2 the German reservist who pretendc
Z to have seen the gun has admitte
3 that he lied and is now serving a teri
In prison for perjury. You are nc
= familiar with American shipping-law
y which expressly permit the carryin
& OF certain types of ammunition on pa
7 scngcr vessels, and you are, of cours
! quite ignorant as to what iEspectio
] of the vessel was made in New Horl
Z for you were in Germany at the tim
Z Your assertions were made wholly c
= the basis OF the false statements fu
! nished you in government controll'
( papers. You had no means of detC
z mining the truth or falsity OF Il
Z statements, on the basis Of reliab
: and impartial evidence; yet you d
j not hesitate to make assertions whiC
( your own government now practical
& admits were not well founded. TT
4 fact that the learned men Of &c
! many have throughout the war vi
j lently supported the German positit
Z by reckless charges and wild asse
4 lions. paying no regard to the niece
, sity OF basng such charges and asse
3 tions on impartial evidence, instct
Z OF accepting with childlike simplici
& tho unsupported statements of q
= German government, has destroy
! the confidence of Americans in {
Z ability of the German educated m
4 TO think and reason fairly and hone
4 ly about the war.
! The manifestos of the German pl
! fessors. issued to Americans, did mu