The Elbert County tribune., 1918-07-05

about 1t and asked him why he had given up the
command of u certain British hospital ship berth
which to my andsmans eyes had seemed to be the
easiest on the sea today in spite of instances like
the Rewa.
He didn't look at me as he answered He looked
fur out through his cabin port at the tower of the
W"oworth building. He finally told me that In
spite OF the danger 1t was easier on him to take
merchant ship or transport through the war zone
than to have his heart torn asunder by the suffer-
Ing of humanity he had on hospital ships:
men gassed and writing In agony; wounded
or mutiintcd out of sheer deviltry. Frightfuness-
waste of manhood because the kaiser wanted to
dominate the word-thats what he saw on hos
pitai ship; and when his ship of mercy, like the
Rewa. was torpedoed without warning and he man.
aged to beach her before she sank he simply went
to pieces. as have many hospital ship commanders
before him.
Every hospital ship sunk means that the allies
must replace 1t with ship which has been carry
Ing food and munitions. That is Germany's game
Finding her submarine warfare was not succeeding
as she had hoped. she lessons the tonnage of her
enemies by fouler means still and covers up her
dastardiy motives by officially saying:
"The German government can no longer suffer
that the British government should forward troops
and munitions to the main theater of war under
cover of the Red Cross. md 1t therefore declares
that from now on no enemy hospital ship will be
allowed In the comprised between a line
drawn from Marlborough Head to Terschelling on
the one hand and Ushant and Lands End on the
other. II In this sea zone after the expiry of the
stated time any enemy hospital ship is encountered
1t will be considered vessel of war and 1t will
be attacked without further ceremony"
And knowing full well that no allied hospital
ships were carrying either troops. munitions
anything which they shouldn't in their garb of
mercy. Germany has lessened tonnage by sinking
the hospital ship Britannia 10000 tons), Asturas
dl.400 tons). Gloucester Castle 1880 tons).
Donegal u.997 tons). Salta (7,2S4 tons), Lanfranc
(8275 tons). Dover Castle (S.260 tons), Rewa
(7.267 tons). Glenart Castle $1,000 tons), Liam
Axx.1 O~,tf ffn nan
to over 100000 tons
Germany has already begun paving the way to
lessen American tonnage by sinking our hospital
ships whenever we get any. On May 1. 1918. she
officially notified the world that
"American avintors crossing to Europe as
members OF the Red Cross on hospital ships This
misuse of the Red Cross appears from documentary
evidence found on American nviators who have
been shot down. An American brought down in
the region of the army of General Won Hutier
ried pass which referred to him as member Of
the American ambulance for France.
"Prisoners openly admit that 1t Is the general
practice for aviators to enter American ambulance
service for their passage to Europe and to
hospital ships. After they landed In France
they Immediately transfer to the automobile corps
and thence into the air service.
ssThe captured aviator referred to had however.
transferred directly from the ambulance service
into the air service. Another carried certificate
r.. u.en uutes of several transfers were off,
ciaily Indicated"
Except for the naval hospital ship Solace and
hospital yacht Surf attached to our feet and two
Ward liners being converted into the hospital ships
Comfort aud Mercy. solely for the use of the navy
and Mt this writing not yet in service the United
States has had hospital ships at all. Conse-
orently 1t would be impossible for American avia-
tors to cross such ships as Germany states they
have The avlators which Germany refers to as
having crossed to France for Red Cross work
crossed at their own expense on regular passenger