The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-01-26
The Kohl Incident

The Kohl Incident
Two readers Of The Palladium yesterday sum-
med up the general opinion of the city on the
somewhat ambiguous laudation OF President Will
son by Hans Kohl Little need be added to what
they said. .t
Hollis statement admits of two interpreta-
tops. One is that he sincerely wanted to praise
the President for his moderation but did not de-
sire to offer an effront to the American people by
insinuating that they lacked cultured restraint
and poise.
The other is that Kohl merely used the full
some praise of President Wilson as vehicle to
condemn the American people for their adherence
Of the crimes of which German soldiers have been
guilty. Our two correspondents accepted this
interpretation, and the public generally shares
their belief.
This puts Kohl in the embarrassing position of
having insulted the American people by charging
them with unjustly and indecently applying to
his former nationals terms of approbrium which
the Germans do not deserve.
On this point there can be no discussion A
glance at German War Practices published by
the Committee on Public information will con-
vince the most ardent admrer of Germany that
the Kaisers army has been guilty of most helm
GUS outrages eminently justifyng the allies to
call his soldiers Huns, butcherers and murderers.
The fact that President Wilson has refrained
from using these terms Of reproach is no proof
that the Germans have not deserved them. Ev-
cry one who has only glanced over the great state
papers of President Wilson knows that he con-
demned the Germans for the very acts that are
embodied in the terms butcherers, Huns and muir
derers. His declarations leave no doubt on that
sr< o &c re r,.sl g
1917 before joint session of the two houses of
Congress, he said.
Vessels of every kind, whatever their flag
their character, their cargo their destination,
their errand have been ruthlessly sent to the bot
tom without warning and without thoughts of
help or mercy for those on board. Even hospital
ships and ships carrying relief to the sorely be-
reaved and stricken people of Belgium. ......
have been sunk with the same reckless lack of
compassion and principle. l was for little
while unable to believe that such things would in
fact be done by any government that had hither-
to subscribed to the humane practices of civil
lied nations. ...... The present German sub
marine warfare against commerce is warfare
against mankind.
Convincing proof of the barbarous practices
of German soldiers, whether they perpetrate
them under orders from officers or not, aroused
feeling of resentment among patriots in this
community against Kolls implied denial that the
accusations were falsehoods and fabrications
Hence the vigorous denunication of his state
ment.
The American people are convinced in their
hearts that Germany has been guilty of crimes
against innocent childhood. pure womanhood, and
the fundamentals Of civilization that cry to the
skies for vengeance. They insist and no mouth
ings to the contrary will deter them, that the
perpetrators of these outrages are Huns, butch
erers and murderers. These terms are not
scurrilous and infamous Islander but the very
conviction of their hearts. No defense of these
terms will be tolerated by the public