Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-15
Guilt Is Personal
Chicago Tribune.

British intelligence officers have announced
complete indictments against several hundred
German officers, from generals down, against
whom there seems to lie unacceptable evidence
of atrocious acts. Those who have felt that TO
place the guilt for heinous misdeeds would be
an impossible task, and that German horror
would go unpublished through inability to single
out the criminals in the great mass of war set
tlement, may be treasured. The allies have not
forgotten; and while their armies have been
prosecuting warfare in the field the civil instru-
ments OF justice have been likewise alert.
President Wilson will find ready acceptance
OF his pronouncement that Eve have no quarrel
with the German people" when it comes time
for allied action the charges against the
German officers accused of unnamable offenses.
While many may not agree with the president
that the German people have been thrust into
warfare against their better judgments, they will
quickly agree that the junkers are responsible
tor their share of it and take comfor. IN the
prospect that the murderers of women and
children will suffer proper penalty for their mis-
deeds. 1t would be difficult to select from the
mass OF the German people those to be hanged.
But the British have sinplihed the process of
picking out the right junkers. The president
can easily accept his own version that the mill
tary caste is responsible and anenable to Justice
In his attitude toward the prosecution of the
trusts Mr.. Wilson uttered the phrase, guilt is
personal" The list of guilty German officers
gives the president further reason for sustaining
British action against them with his own ex-
pressed doctrine. 1t is possible for the pres-
dent to join in demand for personal punish
n1ent aside. from whatever general demands may
be made for the political resurrection of the
German people,
Tancrede Mattel has published in Paris book
in which he presents the case against German
general officers. In this who's Who of
Atrocity" there are s73 Germans named, to-
gether with the specific crimes alleged. For ex-
ample:
Won Hindenburg-Ordere bread soaked in
paraffin for Russian prisoners.
Won Mackensen-Ordered 1000 Roumanian
children shot because they had conspired
against him."
kupprecht-Massacred and hanged Russian
civilians. Ordered deportations from Lille,
Roubax and Tourcoing.
Won Schubert-Caused 81 girls to be car
RED off as "orderlies" to his officers
Won Bulow--Posted this notice in Ardennes:
"Ten hostages will be taken in each street. If
there is any disturbance in the street all
hostages will be shot"
Klauss-Sixty civilians in Gerbevller shot;
Red Gross worker burned in petroleum.
Stenger-Ordered all prisoners shot
Won Dreicht-When drunk ordered III
civilians shot
Prince Eitel Friedrich-Conhrmed thief
These are merely instances. In each OF these
cases as in all the remainder of the 573 the ac-
cusations are many and detailed. Here have
been set down some of the more conspicuous.
In Prince Eitels case there is direct evidence of
numerous thefts of small things, including fur
niture and household goods.
Delivery of these men over to the military
authorities and the execution of swift justice
upon them will have mighty influence on the
future of warfare and may cause future warriors
to respect the conventions OF conflict if no
other good is achieved.