Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-07-11

" ~ just SuCu = SstuI|s ! "Ao
speaking to a merchant ship captain
about It and asked him why he had given up the
command Of n certain British hospital ship, a berth
which to my landsmans 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 locked
far out through his cabin port at the tower Of the
Woolworth building. He finally told ME that IN
spite Of the danger It was easier on him to take a
merchant ship or a transport through the war zone
than to have his heart torn asunder by the suffer-
ing of humanity he had seen on hospital ships;
mon gassed and writhing In agony; men wounded
or mutllated out of sheer deyiltry. Frightfulness-
waste Of manhood because the kaiser wanted to
dominate the world--that's what he saw on a hos
pitai ship; and when his ship Of mercy, like the
Rewa, was t~drpedoed without warning and he man.
aged to beach her before she sank he simply went
TO pieces, us have many hospital ship commanders
before him.
Every hospital ship sunk means that the allies
must replace 1t with a 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
dastardly motives by officially saying:
1.-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, and It therefore declares
yU8L IIUW uOW VI liz uCu uO0ptSAA chAV "AA W
allowed in the sea zone comprised between a line
drawn from Marlborough Head to Terschelllng on
the one hand and Ushant and Lands End on the
other. II In this sea zone after the expiry OF tho
stated time any enemy hospital ship Is encountered
It will be considered as a vessel Of war and 1t will
be attacked without further ceremony"
And knowing full we'll that no allied hospital
ships were carrying either troops. munitions or
anything which they shouldn't In their garb OF
mercy. Germany has lessened tonnage by sinking
the. hospital ship Britannia 10000 tons). Asturlas
(ll,4OO tons), Gloucester Castle 1890 tonsl.
Donegal t1.907 tons), salta (7,2S4 tons). Lanfranc
(e,275 tons). Dover, Castle (S.2o0 tons). Rewa
(7,2e7 tons). Glenart Castle 10000 tons). Liam.
dovey Castle 10000 tons), and others amounting
to over 100000 tons.
Germany has already begun paving the way to
lessen American tonnage by sinking our hospital
ihips whenever we get any. On May ]. 1918. sne
tdicially notified the world that
american ~aviators are 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 avlators who nave
been shot down. An American Drousn. aown y
the region Of the army Of General Won Auues cur
rted q pass which referred to him as q member o.
the American ambulance for France.
-sprisoners openly admit that 1t II the general
c-,.ctiea for ~nyiators to enter American ambulance
service Tor their passage to Europe and to cross on
hosnitnl ships. After they are LANDED IN rFancs
they Immediately transfer to the automobile corp'
and thence into the air service.
..The captured aviator referred 70 nao. however
transferred directly from the ambulance servle'
lneo ne cir service. Another carried Q ceft'neav
~ "a. M. oates Of several transfers were ON
cln,,y indicated" I.
Escept for the navat hospital ship 'so'ace sN
ohoenltai Yacht surf attached to our feet. ana w
Wsrd liners being converted into the hospital amp
Comfort aud Mercy. solely Tor the use Of me Pay
and. Al this writing not yet In service. Ms Uni.s
states has had no hospital ships q aM. Oons.
essatiylt would ~ impossible for American AZ.
tor 10 eross on such ships 90 Germany swsss ~
havlns crossed % France for Red Gross VOL
sseo0sd q thsif own szpsass % regular passsnss